The Andromeda Galaxy recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a had been caught in eruption eight times. The inter-eruption period of M31N 2008-12a is ~1-year, making it the most rapidly recurring system known, and a strong single- degenerate Type Ia Supernova progenitor candidate. Following the 2013 eruption, a campaign was initiated to detect the predicted 2014 eruption and to then perform high cadence optical photometric and spectroscopic monitoring using ground-based telescopes, along with rapid UV and X-ray follow-up with the Swift satellite. Here we report the results of a high cadence multicolour optical monitoring campaign, the spectroscopic evolution, and the UV photometry. We also discuss tantalising evidence of a potentially related, vastly-extended, nebulosity. The 2014 eruption was discovered, before optical maximum, on October 2, 2014. We find that the optical properties of M31N 2008-12a evolve faster than all Galactic recurrent novae known, and all its eruptions show remarkable similarity both photometrically and spectroscopically. Optical spectra were obtained as early as 0.26-days post maximum, and again confirm the nova nature of the eruption. A significant deceleration of the inferred ejecta expansion velocity is observed which may be caused by interaction of the ejecta with surrounding material, possibly a red giant wind. We find a low ejected mass and low ejection velocity, which are consistent with high mass-accretion rate, high mass white dwarf, and short recurrence time models of novae. We encourage additional observations, especially around the predicted time of the next eruption, towards the end of 2015.
We present optical (B, V, Rc, Ic and y) and near-infrared (J, H, and Ks) photometric and spectroscopic observations of a classical nova V1280 Scorpii for five years from 2007 to 2011. Our photometric observations show a declining event in optical bands shortly after the maximum light, which took about 250 days to recover. This event was most probably caused by dust formation. The event was accompanied by a short (~30 days) re-brightening episode (~2.5mag in V), which suggests that there had been some re-ignition of the surface nuclear burning. After 2008, the y band observations show a very long plateau at around y=10.5 for more than 1000 days until April 2011 (~1500 days after the maximum light). The nova had taken a very long time (~50 months) to enter the nebular phase, according to a clear detection of both [OIII] 4959 and 5007 and is still continuing to generate the wind caused by H-burning. This finding suggests that historically V1280 Sco is evolving at its slowest ever measured rate. The interval from the maximum light (2007 February 16) to the beginning of the nebular phase is longer than any previously known slow novae: V723 Cas (18 months), RR Pic (10 months), or HR Del (8 months). It suggests that the mass of a white dwarf in the V1280 Sco system might be 0.6M_{sun}_ or lower. The distance, based on our measurements of the expansion velocity combined with the directly measured size of the dust shell, is estimated to be 1.1+/-0.5kpc.
An analysis of more than 2000 CCD observations of the field RR Lyrae star NSV 09295 shows that the star is a double-mode RR Lyrae (RRd) variable with P_0_=0.46334d and P_1_=0.34423d. This brings the total of known field RRd stars in the Milky Way galaxy to four. These four variables are compared with the RRd stars in galactic globular clusters and with the field RRd stars in the LMC, and in the Draco and Sculptor dwarf galaxies. It appears that all known RRd stars have a metal abundance of less than [Fe/H]=-1.6. (c) 1997 American Astronomical Society.
In this paper we describe the observations of the mutual phenomena of the Galilean Satellites of Jupiter performed at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, as part of the PHEMU97 and PHEMU03 campaigns. The paper describes the observational technique, the data reduction and summarises the results obtained.
We present ground-based optical observations of the 2009 September and 2010 January transits of HD 80606b. Based on three partial light curves of the 2009 September event, we derive a midtransit time of T_c_[HJD]=2455099.196+/-0.026, which is about 1{sigma} away from the previously predicted time. We observed the 2010 January event from nine different locations, with most phases of the transit being observed by at least three different teams. We determine a midtransit time of T_c_[HJD]=2455210.6502+/-0.0064, which is within 1.3{sigma} of the time derived from a Spitzer observation of the same event.
(3200) Phaethon exhibits both comet- and asteroid-like properties, suggesting it could be a rare transitional object such as a dormant comet or previously volatile-rich asteroid. This justifies detailed study of (3200) Phaethon's physical properties as a better understanding of asteroid-comet transition objects can provide insight into minor body evolution. We therefore acquired time series photometry of (3200) Phaethon over 15 nights from 1994 to 2013, primarily using the Tektronix 2048x2048 pixel CCD on the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. We utilized light curve inversion to (1) refine (3200) Phaethon's rotational period to P=3.6032+/-0.0008 hr; (2) estimate a rotational pole orientation of {lambda}=+85{deg}+/-13{deg} and {beta}=-20{deg}+/-10{deg}; and (3) derive a shape model. We also used our extensive light curve data set to estimate the slope parameter of (3200) Phaethon's phase curve as G~0.06, consistent with C-type asteroids. We discuss how this highly oblique pole orientation with a negative ecliptic latitude supports previous evidence for (3200) Phaethon's origin in the inner main asteroid belt as well as the potential for deeply buried volatiles fueling impulsive yet rare cometary outbursts.
This paper present the first part of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) General Catalog of Stars in the Galactic Bulge. The catalog is based on observations collected during the OGLE microlensing search. This part contains 33196 stars brighter than I=18mag identified in the Baade's Window BWC field. Stars from remaining 20 OGLE fields will be presented in similar form in the next parts of the Catalog.
We present the VI photometric maps of the Galactic bulge. They contain VI photometry and astrometry of about 30 million stars from 49 fields of 0.225 square degree each in the Galactic center region. The data were collected during the second phase of the OGLE microlensing project. We discuss the accuracy of data and present color-magnitude diagrams of selected fields observed by OGLE in the Galactic bulge. The VI maps of the Galactic bulge are accessible electronically for the astronomical community from the OGLE Internet archive
The very young open cluster Pis 20 has been investigated using CCD UBVR photometry. New blue faint members were found down to V=19mag. With them we obtain a better definition of the lower cluster main sequence. Using the fitting method, we derive a cluster distance of d=3600pc (V_0_-M_V_=12.80). The mean color excess is <E_B-V_>=1.24mag.
