The 2008 optical transient in NGC 300 is one of a growing class of intermediate-luminosity transients that brighten several orders of magnitude from a previously optically obscured state. The origin of their eruptions is not understood. Our multi-wavelength photometry and spectroscopy from maximum light to more than a year later provide a record of its post-eruption behavior. We describe its changing spectral energy distribution, the evolution of its absorption- and emission-line spectrum, the development of a bipolar outflow, and the rapid transition from a dense wind to an optically thin ionized wind. In addition to strong, narrow hydrogen lines, the F-type absorption-line spectrum of the transient is characterized by strong CAII and [CAII] emission. The very broad wings of the CAII triplet and the asymmetric [CAII] emission lines are due to strong Thomson scattering in the expanding ejecta. Post-maximum, the hydrogen and CaII lines developed double-peaked emission profiles that we attribute to a bipolar outflow. Between approximately 60 and 100 days after maximum, the F-type absorption spectrum, formed in its dense wind, weakened and the wind became transparent to ionizing radiation. We discuss the probable evolutionary state of the transient and similar objects such as SN 2008S and conclude that they were most likely post-red supergiants or post-asymptotic giant branch stars on a blue loop to warmer temperatures when the eruption occurred. These objects are not luminous blue variables.
We present a detailed analysis of the photometric properties of galaxies in the cluster A2163B at redshift z~0.2 . R-, I- and K-band structural parameters, (half light radius Re, mean surface brightness <{mu}>e within Re and Sersic index n) are derived for N~60 galaxies, and are used to study their internal colour gradients.
We have conducted a BVR imaging survey of nine early-type galaxies previously verified to exist in extremely isolated environments. Our goals are to establish a baseline of morphological and photometric properties for spheroidal systems evolving in extremely low-density environments and to compare these properties with signatures predicted for merged galaxy groups.
We present broadband photometry and provide a quantitative analysis of the structure of galaxies in the inner region of the Abell Cluster 2443 (z~0.1). The galaxy parameters have been derived by fitting a two-component model (Sersic r^1/n^ bulge and exponential disk) to a magnitude-limited sample. Using a new method of analysis that takes into account the effects of seeing on the structural parameters and considers ellipticity as an active parameter, we avoid systematic errors arising from assumptions of circular symmetry. Of the sample galaxies, 76% were classified with these models, while the rest were morphologically peculiar. For the spiral galaxies, the relation between n and B/D is consistent with the trend observed in nearby field galaxy samples. The Sersic index n (which can be considered as a concentration index) of the elliptical galaxies is correlated with the local surface density of the cluster. Monte Carlo simulations were used to check the reliability of the method and determine the magnitude selection criteria. Observations were obtained on 1998 August 19 at the 2.5 m Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma. The prime-focus CCD camera was used with pixel scale of 0.11"/pix, and the seeing ranged from FWHM 0.88" to 1".
We present a study of the distribution of AGNs in clusters of galaxies with a uniformly selected, spectroscopically complete sample of 35 AGNs in eight clusters of galaxies at z=0.06-->0.31. We find that the 12 AGNs with LX>10^42^ergs/s in cluster members more luminous than a rest-frame M_R_<-20mag are more centrally concentrated than typical cluster galaxies of this luminosity, although these AGNs have comparable velocity and substructure distributions to other cluster members.
We present photometry of the brightest stars in six nearby spiral and irregular galaxies with corrected radial velocities from 340 to 460km/s. Three of them are resolved into stars for the first time. Based on luminosity of the brightest blue stars we estimate the following distances to the galaxies: 5.0Mpc for NGC 784, 9.2Mpc for NGC 2683, 8.9Mpc for NGC 2903, 4.1Mpc for NGC 5204, 6.8Mpc for NGC 5474, and 8.7Mpc for NGC 5585.
A release of multicolor broadband (BVRI) photometry for a subsample of 44 isolated spirals drawn from the Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies is presented. Total magnitudes and colors at various circular apertures, as well as some global structural/morphological parameters, are estimated. Morphology is reevaluated through optical and sharp-filtered R-band images, (B-I) color index maps, and archived near-IR JHK images from the Two Micron All Sky Survey. The CAS structural parameters (concentration, asymmetry, and clumpiness) were calculated from the images in each of the bands.
We present the first four years of BVRI photometry from an on-going survey to annually monitor the photometric behavior of evolved luminous stars in M31 and M33. Photometry was measured for 199 stars at multiple epochs, including 9 classic Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs), 22 LBV candidates, 10 post-RGB A/F type hypergiants, and 18 B[e] supergiants. At all epochs, the brightness is measured in the V-band and at least one other band to a precision of 0.04-0.10 mag down to a limiting magnitude of 19.0-19.5. Thirty three stars in our survey exhibit significant variability, including at least two classic LBVs caught in S Doradus-type outbursts. A hyperlinked version of the photometry catalog is at http://go.uis.edu/m31m33photcat
In this paper we present the results of a detailed B, V, R, I, and H{alpha} study of the isolated nearby blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxy NGC 6789. The observed galaxy has not yet been resolved into stars up to now. On CCD frames obtained with 6m BTA telescope and 2.5m Nordic telescope the galaxy is well resolved. Its colour-magnitude diagram confirms the two component (core-halo) galaxy morphology, which consists of two stellar populations distinct in structure and colour: an inner high surface-brightness young population within 150pc from the center of the galaxy, and a relatively low surface-brightness intermediate-age population extending out to at least 600pc. The distance to the galaxy, estimated from the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) is 2.1Mpc which places NGC 6789 close to the Local Group. From the mean colour of the RGB, the mean metal abundance of the halo population is estimated as [Fe/H]=~-1dex.
BVRI data are presented for the majority of steep-spectrum objects in the RATAN-600 7.6cm catalog (RC) catalog with m(R)<23.5mag. Previously developed programs are applied to these data to estimate the redshifts and age of the stellar population of the host galaxies.
