Available YOHKON, TRACE, SOHO/EIT and CORONAS-F data are interpreted as evidences of the non-local coronal mass ejection initiation processes when rapidly increasing electric currents appear in the coronal loops and arcades. These electric currents are driven by subphotospheric processes. Self-similar plasma motions are due to the electric drifts in crossed inductive electric and magnetic fields. Expanding non-planar loops often mimic “reconnection” features, being in reality projection effects of the “twist and fold” processes on the image plane. Among such patterns one can find examples of spurious x-points, concave fronts, blobs, islands, etc. Coronal mass ejections often proceed without large scale topological changes of magnetic fields. They are accompanied by enhanced small-scale turbulence.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html

New developments in surface flux transport modeling and theory of flux transport dynamos have given rise to the notion that certain large active regions with anomalous properties (location, tilt angle and/or Hale/non-Hale character) may have a major impact on the course of solar activity in subsequent years, impacting also on the amplitude of the following solar cycles. Here we discuss our current understanding of the role of such “rogue” active regions in cycle-to-cycle variations of solar activity.

We report the discovery of widespread millimeter-wavelength Class I methanol maser emission associated with protostellar molecular outflows in the massive (proto)cluster G11.92−0.61. Our ~0.5″-resolution SMA and ALMA observations of the 229 GHz and 278 GHz Class I transitions reveal seven and twelve candidate masers, respectively: all 229 GHz masers have 278 GHz counterparts, and five are also coincident with 44 GHz Class I masers previously detected with the VLA. For paired masers, the peak intensities at 229 GHz and 278 GHz are correlated. We also find tentative evidence for a correlation between the strength of millimeter-wavelength Class I maser emission and the energy of the associated molecular outflow.

Recent theoretical studies on Traveling Interplanetary Phenomena (TIP) and their relation or presumed relation to their solar origins will be reviewed. An attempt is made to outline the theoretical studies in the context of mathematical methods and physical processes. The following alternative approaches are examined: analytical vs. numerical methods; magnetohydrodynamics vs. hydrodynamics; processes with or without dissipation; continuum (macroscopic) vs. the kinetic (microscopic) approach. In particular, the flare-generated interplanetary shocks are used as examples to illustrate these theoretical studies within the context of TIP. Some emphasis will be placed on MHD wave propagation through the inner corona and its maturity to a fully-developed interplanetary shock. Further, their propagation and the disturbing effects on the solar wind will be considered. Cases concerning the classification and characteristics of blast-produced shocks and long-lasting ejecta are also discussed in the context of numerical simulations.

We give a brief overview of where we stand with respect to some old and new questions bearing on how massive stars evolve and end their lifetime. We focus on the following key points that are further discussed by other contributions during this conference: convection, mass losses, rotation, magnetic field and multiplicity. For purpose of clarity, each of these processes are discussed on its own but we have to keep in mind that they are all interacting between them offering a large variety of outputs, some of them still to be discovered.

We give here a detailed description of the latest INPOP planetary ephemerides INPOP20a. We test the sensitivity of the Sun oblateness determination obtained with INPOP to different models for the Sun core rotation. We also present new evaluations of possible GRT violations with the PPN parameters β, γ and . With a new method for selecting acceptable alternative ephemerides we provide conservative limits of about 7.16 × 10-5 and 7.49 × 10-5 for β-1 and γ-1 respectively using the present day planetary data samples. We also present simulations of Bepi-Colombo range tracking data and their impact on planetary ephemeris construction. We show that the use of future BC range observations should improve these estimates, in particular γ. Finally, interesting perspectives for the detection of the Sun core rotation seem to be reachable thanks to the BC mission and its accurate range measurements in the GRT frame.

We describe the discovery of HE 1327–2326, a dwarf or subgiant with $\mbox{[Fe/H]}=-5.4$. The star was found in a sample of bright metal-poor stars selected from the Hamburg/ESO survey. Its abundance pattern is characterized by very high C and N abundances. The detection of Sr which is overabundant by a factor of 10 as compared to iron and the Sun, suggests that neutron-capture elements had already been produced in the very early Galaxy. A puzzling Li depletion is observed in this unevolved star which contradicts the value of the primordial Li derived from WMAP and other Li studies. Possible scenarios for the origin of the abundance pattern (Pop. II or Pop. III) are presented as well as an outlook on future observations.

One of the principal motivations of wide-field and synoptic surveys is the search for, and study of, transients. By transients I mean those sources that arise from the background, are detectable for some time, and then fade away to oblivion. Transients in distant galaxies need to be sufficiently bright as to be detectable, and in almost all cases those transients are catastrophic events, marking the deaths of stars. Exemplars include supernovæ and gamma-ray bursts. In our own Galaxy, the transients are strongly variable stars, and in almost all cases are at best cataclysmic rather than catastrophic. Exemplars include flares from M dwarfs, novæ of all sorts (dwarf novæ, recurrent novæ, classical novæ, X-ray novæ) and instabilities in the surface layers of stars such as S Dor or η Carina. In the nearby Universe (say out to the Virgo cluster) we have sufficient sensitivity to see novæ. In 1 I review the history of transients (which is intimately related to the advent of wide-field telescopic imaging). In 2 I summarize wide-field imaging projects, and I then review the motivations that led to the design of the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). Next comes a summary of the astronomical returns from PTF (3), and that is followed by lessons that I have learnt from PTF (4). I conclude that, during this decade, the study of optical transients will continue to flourish (and may even accelerate as surveys at other wavelengths—notably radio, UV and X-ray—come on-line). Furthermore, it is highly likely that there will be a proliferation of highly-specialized searches for transients. Those searches may well remain active even in the era of LSST (5). I end the article by discussing the importance of follow-up telescopes for transient object studies—a topical issue, given the Portfolio Review that is being undertaken in the US.

Using ISAAC/VLT, we have obtained individual spectra of all NIR-bright stars in the central 2′ × 2′ of the cluster Westerlund 1 (Wd 1) with a resolution of R ≈ 9000 at a central wavelength of 2.30 μm. This allowed us to determine radial velocities of ten post-main-sequence stars, and from these values a velocity dispersion. Assuming virial equilibrium, the dispersion of σ = 8.4 km/s leads to a total dynamical cluster mass of 1.25 × 105M⊙, comparable to the photometric mass of the cluster. There is no extra-virial motion which would have to be interpreted as a signature of cluster expansion or dissolution.

A recently discovered young, high-velocity giant star J01020100-7122208 is a good candidate of hypervelocity star ejected from the Galactic center, although it has a bound orbit. If we assume that this star was ejected from the Galactic center, it can be used to constrain the Galactic potential, because the deviation of its orbit from a purely radial orbit informs us of the torque that this star has received. Based on this assumption, we estimate the flattening of the Galactic dark matter halo by using the Gaia DR2 data and the circular velocity data. Our Bayesian analysis shows that the orbit of J01020100-7122208 favors a prolate halo within ~ 10 kpc from the Galactic center. The posterior distribution of the density flattening q shows a broad distribution at q ≳ 1 and peaks at q ≃ 1.5. Also, 98.5% of the posterior distribution is located at q > 1, highly disfavoring an oblate halo.

Compact hot-spots in luminous extragalactic radio sources are often double on the scale of a few kpc (Laing 1981a). Examples are shown in Figures 1–3; the maps were made with the A and B configurations of the VLA. The general features are as follows:

1. (a) It is usually possible to recognize a compact, “active” subcomponent within a radio lobe. This has a size of <1 kpc and may only contain a small fraction of the total flux of the hot-spot. It need not be at the leading edge.

2. (b) More diffuse regions are often grossly offset from the source axis (e.g. 3C 196). In some cases, there is apparent inversion symmetry about the optical identification.

3. (c) The characteristic morphology of a diffuse subcomponent is best illustrated by the eastern hot-spot of 3C 20, which is limb-brightened, with a circumferential magnetic field. The bright edge is on the side furthest away from the compact subcomponent.

4. (d) The polarization structure in the diffuse subcomponents, like that in most extended radio lobes, can be explained if the magnetic field has been sheared so as to be tangential to the surface, but is otherwise random (Laing 1980; 1981b).

5. (e) The most obvious explanation for the multiple structure is that the compact subcomponents represent the points of impact on the surrounding gas of twin beams from the associated galactic nucleus; if these alter their direction, then diffuse remnants may be formed. This idea would be consistent with the inversion symmetry seen, for example, in 3C 196.

6. (f) A problem with this model is posed by the detailed morphology of the diffuse subcomponents: why should the bright limb be opposite the compact subcomponent, rather than at the leading edge of the source? An alternative picture, in which the diffuse subcomponents are formed by material escaping from the active regions, should also be considered.

For the last 10 years, many experimental results have been obtained on the chemical and physical changes induced by ion and electron irradiation of materials relevant to comets. Those results are reviewed here, together with their physical interpretation and their relevance for cometary astrophysics. Cometary material is, from the time of its origin, altered by the large amount of energy deposited by energetic ions. Four phases of the irradiation history are considered: the pre-cometary phase, during which interstellar dust is bombarded by cosmic-ray ions; the accretion phase, during which comets are built up, possibly in an environment rich in fast ions (T-Tau phase); the cometary phase, during which the outer layers of the comets are irradiated by galactic ions in the Oort cloud; and the post-cometary phase, during which dust, lost from the comet, is bombarded by solar ions.

The relevant applications of laboratory results are reviewed. In particular, the ability of ion irradiation of simple carbon-containing ices to produce complex refractory organic materials is discussed. In the Oort cloud, this process can occur several meters into the surface, so that the buildup of a stable organic crust may occur. A comparison of ion irradiation at various stages is also made with other models for the production of organics.

Edge-on spiral galaxies offer a unique perspective on the vertical structure of spiral disks, both stars and the iconic dark dustlanes. The thickness of these dustlanes can now be resolved for the first time with Herschel in far-infrared and sub-mm emission. We present NHEMESES, an ongoing project that targets 12 edge-on spiral galaxies with the PACS and SPIRE instruments on Herschel. These vertically resolved observations of edge-on spirals will impact on several current topics.

First and foremost, these Herschel observations will settle whether or not there is a phase change in the vertical structure of the ISM with disk mass. Previously, a dramatic change in dustlane morphology was observed as in massive disks the dust collapses into a thin lane. If this is the case, the vertical balance between turbulence and gravity dictates the ISM structure and consequently star-formation and related phenomena (spiral arms, bars etc.). We specifically target lower mass nearby edge-ons to complement existing Herschel observations of high-mass edge-on spirals (the HEROES project).

Secondly, the combined data-set, together with existing Spitzer observations, will drive a new generation of spiral disk Spectral Energy Distribution models. These model how dust reprocesses starlight to thermal emission but the dust geometry remains the critical unknown.

And thirdly, the observations will provide an accurate and unbiased census of the cold dusty structures occasionally seen extending out of the plane of the disk, when backlit by the stellar disk. To illustrate the NHEMESES project, we present early results on NGC 4244 and NGC 891, two well studies examples of a low and high-mass edge-on spiral.

In-spiraling supermassive black holes should emit gravitational waves, which would produce characteristic distortions in the time of arrival residuals from millisecond pulsars. Multiple national and regional consortia have constructed pulsar timing arrays by precise timing of different sets of millisecond pulsars. An essential aspect of precision timing is the transfer of the times of arrival to a (quasi-)inertial frame, conventionally the solar system barycenter. The barycenter is determined from the knowledge of the planetary masses and orbits, which has been refined over the past 50 years by multiple spacecraft. Within the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav), uncertainties on the solar system barycenter are emerging as an important element of the NANOGrav noise budget. We describe what is known about the solar system barycenter, touch upon how uncertainties in it affect gravitational wave studies with pulsar timing arrays, and consider future trends in spacecraft navigation.

Before combining the coordinates of the pole obtained by the Dahlgren Polar Monitoring Service (DPMS) with those of the Bureau International de l'Heure (BIH) we investigated the systematic differences between the two series and their relative weights.

We used the Mark III Optical Interferometer on Mt. Wilson in 1991 and 1992 to measure the diameters of 42 stars with 10 nm wide filters centered at 712 nm and at 754 nm. These filters probe the stellar atmosphere in a strong TiO band (712 nm) and in a “continuum” band relatively free of TiO absorption (754 nm). The data were taken on a North-South baseline that could be configured to lengths between 3.0 m and 31.5 m. Observations of the target stars were interleaved with frequent measurements of calibrator stars. The square of the calibrated visibility amplitude V2 was determined as a function of baseline length, and a uniform disk model fitted to these data (for details see Mozurkewich et al. 1991). The average formal error of the diameter measurements - derived from the χ2 of the model fits - is 2.5%. Data for a subset of 12 stars have already been published (Quirrenbach et al. 1993).

We study the faint end of the HI mass function (HIMF) in order to test the predictions of the CDM theory on the number density of objects with small (dark) masses. The neutral hydrogen is much better tracer of the underlying mass distribution compared to the luminous matter and can be used to test the existence of a population of small galaxies in which the star formation has been partially or completely suppressed during cosmic evolution. Due to technical limitations, the existing HI surveys are not very sensitive on masses below 10$^8$ HI $M_{\odot}$. We designed a blind HI survey to be sensitive for objects with small HI masses. The surveyed area is in the Canis Venatici groups of galaxies and covers in total $\approx$86 deg$^2$ of sky, with the observed velocities in the range $-350 < cz < 1400$ km s$^{-1}$. We detected 69 objects, 22 of them for the first time in HI. All new HI detections fall in the lower part of the mass-histogram, confirming our ability to detect galaxies with small HI masses. The calculated HIMF is flat in the faint end regime ($\alpha {\sim}{-}$1), different from the steep rise predicted by CDM models. Possible effects of the environment on the estimated HIMF parameters are discussed.

The results of a spectrum synthesis analysis of elemental abundances derived from the high-resolution CCD-spectrograms of the SMC red supergiant stars PMMR23 and PMMR39 (stars 23 & 39 in the catalogue Prevot et al. 1983) are presented. The abundances of 35 elements in the atmosphere of PMMR23 have been obtained. Elements with atomic numbers Z<56 are deficient with respect to the solar abundances. The mean underabundance is about –0.7 dex. The abundances of elements heavier than barium are close to the solar value. In the case of PMMR23, the atmosphere is enriched in elements heavier than barium which show abundances close to the solar value. These abundances can be explained as a combination of r- and s-processes. In PMMR39, all the 20 studied elements present abundances deficient with respect to solar values The abundances of 31 elements with Z>30 are determined in the atmosphere of Arcturus.

“Galaxies are like people: they depend on both genetics and environment” (van den Bergh 1975)

It is well known that the energy for solar eruptions comes from magnetic fields in solar active regions. Magnetic energy storage and dissipation are regarded as important physical processes in the solar corona. With incomplete theoretical modeling for eruptions in the solar atmosphere, activity forecasting is mainly supported with statistical models. Solar observations with high temporal and spatial resolution continuously from space well describe the evolution of activities in the solar atmosphere, and combined with three dimensional reconstruction of solar magnetic fields, makes numerical short-term (within hours to days) solar activity forecasting possible. In the current report, we propose the erupting frequency and main attack direction of solar eruptions as new forecasts and present the prospects for numerical short-term solar activity forecasting based on the magnetic topological framework in solar active regions.