The vicinity of the Galactic center harbors many potential accelerators of cosmic rays (CR) that could shine in very-high-energy (VHE) γ-rays, such as pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, binary systems and the central black hole Sgr A*, and is characterized by high gas density, large magnetic fields and a high rate of starburst activity similar to that observed in the core of starburst galaxies. In addition to these astrophysical sources, annihilation of putative WIMPs concentrated in the gravitational well could lead to significant high-energy emission at the Galactic center. The Galactic center region has been observed by atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, and in particular by the H. E. S. S. array in Namibia for the last ten years above 150 GeV. This large data set, comprising more than 200 hours of observations, led to the discovery of a point-like source spatially compatible with the supermassive black hole Sgr A*, and to an extended diffuse emission, correlated with molecular clouds and attributed to the interaction of cosmic rays with the interstellar medium. Over the same time period, two starburst galaxies, namely M 82 and NGC 253, were detected at TeV energies after very deep exposures. Results from these ten years of observations of the Galactic center region and starburst galaxies at TeV energies are presented, and implications for the various very-high-energy emission mechanisms are discussed.

Precision asteroseismology is the determination of accurate stellar parameters from oscillation data. At first successful for pulsating white dwarf stars, it is now applied to more and more types of stars. We give a number of selected examples where precision asteroseismology, but also asteroseismology based on few observables may lead to considerable improvement of stellar astrophysics in the near future.

I summarize current state-of-the-art methods for treating the difficult problem of turbulent convection in stellar interiors and I discuss a powerful approach for analysis that allows one to leverage the most from 3D stellar models.

The term “families of diffuse bands” (DIBs) appeared in 1986/87 when my collaborators: Gordon A.H. Walker, Bengt E. Westerlund and I found that the strength ratio of the major DIBs 5780 and 5797 is heavily variable. We proved that at the same E(B-V) the DIB intensities may vary by as much as a factor of three or more. A similar result was published by Karl Josafatsson and Ted Snow soon after. A decade later, we proved (with Chris Sneden) that certain DIB strength ratios seem to be related to intensities of the known features of simple molecular species; this led to the introduction of the so called σ and ζ type interstellar clouds. The former are characterized by very weak molecular features (but broad DIBs – very strong) while the latter by rather strong bands of simple radicals and weak broad DIBs. Currently we face a bunch of questions: are the DIB intensities related to those of certain molecular species, e.g. C2 as suggested by Lew Hobbs' and Ted Snow's group? Do the DIB profiles, found to be complex by Peter Sarre, depend on e.g. the rotational temperatures of simple, linear carbon species? Do the DIB profiles depend on the irradiation of interstellar clouds by nearby stars? The relative DIB strengths as well as those of the simple radicals seem to be related to the shapes of interstellar extinction curves. We thus face three players in the interstellar translucent clouds: dust particles, simple radicals and the DIB carriers. Apparently, their mutual relations depend on local physical parameters of intervening clouds; these relations are not clear yet.

We performed an observational study of the relation between the interstellar magnetic field alignment and star formation in twenty (20) sky regions containing Bok Globules. The presence of young stellar objects in the globules is verified by a search of infrared sources with spectral energy distribution compatible with a pre main-sequence star. The interstellar magnetic field direction is mapped using optical polarimetry. These maps are used to estimate the dispersion of the interstellar magnetic field direction in each region from a Gaussian fit, σB. In addition to the Gaussian dispersion, we propose a new parameter, η, to measure the magnetic field alignment that does not rely on any function fitting. Statistical tests show that the dispersion of the magnetic field direction is different in star forming globules relative to quiescent globules. Specifically, the less organised magnetic fields occur in regions having young stellar objects.

Supernovae and their remnants are believed to be prodigious sources of Galactic cosmic rays and interstellar dust. Understanding the mechanisms behind their surprisingly high production rate is helped by the study of nearby young supernova remnants. There has been none better in modern times than SN1987A, for which radio observations have been made for over a quarter of a century. We review extensive observations made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at centimetre wavelengths. Emission at frequencies from 1 to 100 GHz is dominated by synchrotron radiation from an outer shock front which has been growing exponentially in strength from day 3000, and is currently sweeping around the circumstellar ring at about 4000 km s−1. Three dimensional models of the propagation of the shock into the circumstellar medium are able to reproduce the main observational features of the remnant, and their evolution. We find that up to 4% of the electrons encountered by the shock are accelerated to relativistic energies. High-frequency ALMA observations will break new ground in the understanding of dust and molecule production.

Representing a post-scriptum supplementary to a previous paper of the authors Brumberg & Ivanova (2011) this note aims to simplify the practical development of the Earth's rotation theory, in the framework of the general planetary theory, avoiding the non–physical secular terms and involving the separation of the fast and slow angular variables, both for planetary–lunar motion and Earth's rotation. In this combined treatment of motion and rotation, the fast angular terms are related to the mean orbital longitudes of the bodies, the diurnal and Euler rotations of the Earth. The slow angular terms are due to the motions of pericenters and nodes, as well as the precession of the Earth. The combined system of the equations of motion for the principal planets and the Moon and the equations of the Earth's rotation is reduced to the autonomous secular system with theoretically possible solution in a trigonometric form. In the above–mentioned paper, the Earth's rotation has been treated in Euler parameters. The trivial change of the Euler parameters to their small declinations from some nominal values may improve the practical efficiency of the normalization of the Earth's rotation equations. This technique may be applied to any three-axial rigid planet. The initial terms of the corresponding expansions are given in the Appendix.

Strong, kilo-Gauss, magnetic fields are required to explain a range of observational properties in young, accreting pre-main sequence (PMS) systems. We review the techniques used to detect magnetic fields in PMS stars. Key results from a long running campaign aimed at characterising the large scale magnetic fields in accreting T Tauri stars are presented. Maps of surface magnetic flux in these systems can be used to build 3-D models exploring the role of magnetic fields and the efficiency with which magnetic fields can channel accretion from circumstellar disks on to young stars. Long-term variability in T Tauri star magnetic fields strongly point to a dynamo origin of the magnetic fields. Studies are underway to quantify how changes in magnetic fields affect their accretion properties. We also present the first results from a new programme that investigates the evolution of magnetic fields in intermediate mass (1.5–3M⊙) pre-main sequence stars as they evolve from being convective T Tauri stars to fully radiative Herbig AeBe stars.

A short review of the profiles of diffuse interstellar bands and their possible interpretation is given, largely from the perspective of absorption by gas-phase molecules. Potentially a crucial source of information on the nature of the diffuse band carriers, profile studies provide a promising avenue of research towards finding the solution to their identification. Detection and modelling of fine structure in particular offers a valuable benchmark against which any proposed carriers(s) can be tested.

We review potential mass-loss mechanisms in the various evolutionary stages of massive stars, from the well-known line-driven winds of O-stars and BA-supergiants to the less-understood winds of Red Supergiants. We discuss optically thick winds from Wolf-Rayet stars and Very Massive Stars, and the hypothesis of porosity-moderated, continuum-driven mass loss from stars formally exceeding the Eddington limit, which might explain the giant outbursts from Luminous Blue Variables. We finish this review with a glance on the impact of rapid rotation, magnetic fields and small-scale inhomogeneities in line-driven winds.

High-redshift quasars are unique probes of the evolution of supermassive black holes and the intergalactic medium at the end of the epoch of reionization. We present the optical spectra of eight new z ~ 6 quasars selected from the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System 1 (Pan-STARRS1). Details of the selection strategy can be found in Bañados et al. (2014). With this work we increase the number of known quasars at z < 5.7 by more than 10%. The quasars discovered here span a large range of luminosities (19.6 ≤ zP1 ≤ 21.2) and are remarkably heterogeneous in their spectral features: half of them show bright emission lines whereas the other half show weak or no Lyα emission line. We find a larger fraction of weak–line emission quasars than in lower redshift studies, although still based on low number statistics, this may imply that the quasar population could be more diverse than previously thought.

As the remnant of Supernova (SN) 1987A has been getting brighter over time, new observations at high frequencies have allowed imaging of the radio emission at unprecedented detail. We present a new radio image at 44 GHz of the supernova remnant (SNR), derived from observations performed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) in 2011. The diffraction-limited image has a resolution of 349×225 mas, which is the highest achieved to date in high-dynamic range images of the SNR. We also present a new image at 18 GHz, also derived from ATCA observations performed in 2011, which is super-resolved to 0″.25. The new 44 and 18 GHz images yield the first high-resolution spectral index map of the remnant. The comparison of the 44 GHz image with contemporaneous X-ray and Hα observations allows further investigations of the nature of the remnant asymmetry and sheds more light into the progenitor hypotheses and SN explosion. In light of simple free-free absorption models, we discuss the likelihood of detecting at 44 GHz the possible emission originating from a pulsar wind nebula (PWN) or a compact source in the centre of the remnant.

Barred galaxies contain substructures such as a pair of dust lanes and nuclear rings, with the latter being sites of intense star formation. We study the substructure formation as well as star formation in nuclear rings using numerical simulations. We find that nuclear rings form not by the Lindblad resonances, as previously thought, but by the centrifugal barrier that inflowing gas along dust lanes cannot overcome. This predicts a smaller ring in a more strongly barred galaxy, consistent with observations. Star formation rate (SFR) in a nuclear ring is determined primarily by the mass inflow rate to the ring. In our models, the SFR typically shows a short strong burst associated with the rapid gas infall and stays very small for the rest of the evolution. When the SFR is low, ages of young star clusters exhibit an azimuthal gradient along the ring since star formation takes place mostly near the contact points between the dust lanes and the nuclear ring. When the SFR is large, on the other hand, star formation is widely distributed throughout the whole length of the ring, with no apparent age gradient of star clusters. Since observed ring star formation appears long-lived with episodic bursts, our results suggest that the bar region should be replenished continually with fresh gas from outside.

We present some results of long-term studies of pulsating stars conducted in the course of the OGLE and Araucaria projects. In particular, very scarce eclipsing binaries containing pulsating stars are discussed. Such systems provide a unique opportunity to improve calibration of the cosmic distance scale and to better calibrate stellar evolutionary models.

This review will attempt to draw a state of the art observational picture of the Galactic bulge. The main chemical, kinematic and evolutionary properties of the gas and stellar populations in the barred bulge and towards the Galactic center region will be discussed in the context of the possible formation scenarios. Future perspectives for our comprehension of the complex structure of the Galactic bulge from ongoing and foreseen optical and infrared surveys will be also highlighted.

The Saturnian satellite Titan is one of the main targets of the Cassini-Huygens mission, which revealed in particular Titan's shape, gravity field, and rotation state. The shape and gravity field suggest that Titan is not in hydrostatic equilibrium, that it has a global subsurface ocean, and that its ice shell is both rigid (at tidal periods) and of variable thickness. The rotational state of Titan consists of an expected synchronous rotation rate and an unexpectedly high obliquity (0.3○) explained by Baland et al. (2011) to be a resonant behavior. We here combine a realistic model of the ice shell and interior and a 6-degrees of freedom rotational model, in which the librations, obliquity and polar motion of the rigid core and of the shell are modelled, to constrain the structure of Titan from the observations. We consider the gravitational pull of Saturn on the 2 rigid layers, the gravitational coupling between them, and the pressure coupling at the liquid-solid interfaces.

We confirm the influence of the resonance found by Baland et al., that affects between 10 and 13% of the possible Titans. It is due to the 29.5-year periodic annual forcing. The resonant Titans can be obtained in situations in which a mass anomaly at the shell-ocean boundary (bottom loading) is from 80 to 92% compensated. This suggests a 250 to 280 km thick ocean below a 130 to 140 km thick shell, and is consistent with the degree-3 analysis of Hemingway 26 et al. (2013).

Magnetic fields (MF) can play an essential role in the evolution of the interstellar medium - especially at the early evolutionary stages. Small scale research related to the interaction of MF and pre-stellar condensations are unresolved issues. In quantitative terms, submissions about forming a full picture of gas-dust fragments evolution are far from complete, considering delay of their collapse caused by MF and the reverse effect of self-gravitating objects on the transformation of force lines and changing the values of local strength. The role of these interrelated processes is very important in the estimation of time of evolution of protostellar structures. In contrast to OH, in methanol molecule (most investigating at the moment) there is no unpaired electron, and the Zeeman splitting of the energy levels in CH3OH regards only the levels caused by the nuclear spin. Therefore, Zeeman spectrum in methanol is certainly not going to be as effective as in OH. However, since many methanol masers - Class I (MMI - formed at the earliest stage of the evolution of gas and dust condensations) and Class II (MMII - the area around very young stars and protoplanetary disks) - are associated with OH masers, then from spectra of OH masers the parameters of MF can be estimated, at least, near different methanol masers classes, i.e. in condensations which are at different evolutionary stages. This report presents the results of polarization observations 7 OH maser sources at the NRT (France). The main goal is comparing similarities and differences in MF strength and orientation in these masers, which essentially different according to the type of methanol masers associated with them, i.e. the evolutionary type.

Variable stars have a unique part to play in Galactic astronomy. Among the most important of these variables are the Cepheids (types I and II), the RR Lyraes and the Miras (O- and C-rich). The current status of the basic calibration of these stars in their roles as distance, structure and population indicators is outlined and some examples of recent applications of these stars to Galactic and extragalactic problems are reviewed. The expected impact of Gaia on this type of work is discussed and the need for complementary ground based observations, particularly large scale near-infrared photometry, is stressed.

The recent detection in archival HST images of an object at the the location of supernova (SN) iPTF13bvn may represent the first direct evidence of the progenitor of a Type Ib SN. The object's photometry was found to be compatible with a Wolf-Rayet pre-SN star mass of ≈ 11 M⊙. However, based on hydrodynamical models we show that the progenitor had a pre-SN mass of ≈ 3.5 M⊙ and that it could not be larger than ≈ 8 M⊙. We propose an interacting binary system as the SN progenitor and perform evolutionary calculations that are able to self-consistently explain the light-curve shape, the absence of hydrogen, and the pre-SN photometry. Our models also predict that the remaining companion is a luminous O-type star of significantly lower flux in the optical than the pre-SN object. A future detection of such star may be possible and would provide the first robust progenitor identification for a Type-Ib SN.

The first extragalactic diffuse interstellar band (DIB) detections were of λ4430 in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC) in the 1960s and 70s. Driven mainly by the increased sensitivity afforded by 8-10 m-class telescopes, the last 13 years have witnessed an explosion of DIB discoveries throughout the nearby and distant universe. This review focuses on the history of extragalactic DIB studies, including some of the important results that have come out of this field, and looks to the future for what can be learned about DIBs in external galaxies with the next generation of large telescopes. So far, DIBs have been observed in the Magellanic Clouds, starburst galaxies, DLAs, and nearby (≤30 Mpc distant) spiral galaxies, and are found to be ubiquitous in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) of extragalactic environments wherever dust is present. Important results include the finding that DIB carriers are significantly more closely related to dust than to neutral hydrogen, and that the λ6283 DIB tends to be anomalously weak in low-metallicity sightlines.