Solar diameter observations are presented covering a period close to the maximum of the solar activity cycle 23, from July 1999 to December 2000, at the Observatorio Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. The observations were made at {lambda}=5635{AA}, with a CCD Solar Astrolabe, thus timing the limb crossing through a fixed zenith distance. The formal precision of a single measurement is typically 0.18". The results represent daily means from 4625 independent measurements. The series obtained has 225 homogeneously distributed points with a mean precision of 0.12". The average value obtained for the solar semi-diameter within the analyzed period is 959.01"+/-0.02". The average of the observations, made under a wide range of different geometric, instrumental and environmental conditions, aims to provide results representing global variations of the solar radius. From this data, variations with amplitude equal to or larger than 0.02" can be investigated. No statistically significant linear trend is obtained for the examined series. There is, however, some indication of an increasing trend for 1999 followed by a stabilization during 2000. Periodic variations are obtained with amplitudes between 0.02" and 0.07". Periods related to the solar rotation and the sunspot characteristic lifetime can be recognized.
Speckle observations of 145 double stars and suspected double stars are presented and discussed. On the basis of multiple observations, a total of 280 position angle and separation measures are determined, as well as 23 high-quality nondetections. All observations were taken with the (unintensified) Rochester Institute of Technology fast-readout CCD camera mounted on the Lowell-Tololo 61 cm telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory during 1999 October. We find that the measures, when judged as a whole against ephemeris positions of binaries with very well-known orbits, have root mean square deviations of 18+/-03{deg} in position angle and 13+/-2mas in separation. Eleven double stars discovered by Hipparcos were also successfully observed, and the change in position angle and/or separation since the Hipparcos observations was substantial in three cases.
Photometric U and I standard sequences in the field of the open cluster NGC 7790 are presented. The intention is to achieve wide ranges in magnitude and colour, making these sequences suitable for calibrating deep CCD photometry. The 84 standard stars extend the BVR sequences of Odewahn et al. (1992PASP..104..553O) to the near UV and IR, respectively.
As a part of a CCD survey of galaxies belonging or projected onto the Coma and Hercules Superclusters and to the A262, Virgo and Cancer clusters, we present isophote maps and photometric profiles of 87 galaxies (85 taken with the V, 25 with the B and 3 with the U Johnson filters). For the objects in common we compare our results with those in the RC3.
Continuing a CCD survey of galaxies belonging or projected onto the Coma and Hercules Superclusters, to the A262 and Cancer clusters, we present isophote maps and photometric profiles in the Johnson system of 111 galaxies (67 in the V and B bands, 42 only in V, 2 only in B) obtained with the 2.1m telescope at San Pedro Martir (Baja California, Mexico).
CCD UBVIc imaging photometry was carried out in the fields of the open clusters Pismis 8 and Pismis 13, located in the Vela-Puppis region in our Galaxy. MK spectral types have also been determined for a number of stars located in the fields of these two clusters which were used to secure membership among the brightest stars. Since our photometry goes to a fainter limit than previous studies we could provide better reddening, distance and age determinations. Both clusters are located close to the edge of the local arm in the third quadrant. Pismis 8 is a cluster about 5-7My old located at 2000pc from the Sun, while Pismis 13 was found at 2750pc with a probable age of about 100My. The estimate of the slopes of the mass functions in both cases yielded x=1.7 and x=2.1 for Pismis 8 and 13 respectively.
We present results of a study that combines UBVI photometry, MK spectral classification and proper motions in the area of the, up to now unknown, open cluster Ruprecht 58 at the Puppis region.
Three new photometric CCD-based datasets are presented for NGC 6791. They consist of deep UBV photometry (to V_lim_=24, B_lim_=24, U_lim_=23) of the central parts of the cluster and of selected fields around it, and of relatively shallower UBVI photometry for the whole cluster (23'x23'). The data have been used to discuss the reddening, metallicity and age of NGC 6791.
