A method for calculating the resultant probability distributions of orbital elements for a small body (a comet, asteroid or meteoroid) after a gravitational encounter with a planet is described. This technique incorporates the frequency of such encounters so that the chance of attaining a certain new orbit per unit time is derived. The use of this technique is then illustrated by considering the effect of Jupiter upon the orbits of near-parabolic comets with perihelia near that planet (q = 5.2 AU) and in the inner solar system (q = 1.0 AU), with prograde (i = 10°) and retrograde (i = 170°) paths. As indicated by previous authors the prograde comets are more easily captured into short-period (P< 20 yr) and intermediate-period (20<P<200 yr) orbits; however, in contradiction to most previous work but in agreement with the results of Stagg and Bailey (submitted to Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.) it is found that the comets with smaller perihelia, rather than those with perihelia near Jupiter, have higher capture probabilities. This is apparently due to the fact that a small deflection only is needed to sufficiently decelerate a comet onto a smaller orbit if it makes a near-perpendicular crossing of Jupiter’s path, whereas a larger deflection (to achieve a large orbital change) is needed if the paths are near-parallel. With comparatively modest amounts of computer time this method may be used to calculate the relative capture probabilities as a function of i and q for all values of interest, and is thus a useful precursor to integrations following orbital evolution, since it indicates the most likely avenues whereby shorter-period comets are derived from the near-parabolic flux.

Proxima Centauri was observed photoelectrically in the period July-September 1987 with a newly-installed computer-interfaced photometer. Four definite flares and six further possible events were recorded. The level of Proxima’s flaring activity was examined and no significant change since 1969 found.

The binary flare star AT Mic has been observed with the VLA (5 GHz and 1.5 GHz) and, nearly simultaneously, with the MOST (0.843 GHz). There appears to be a slowly varying component of the radio intensity, with a flux density greater at 0.843 GHz than at higher frequencies. It is suggested that above 1 GHz the emission is possibly produced by incoherent gryosynchrotron radiation, whereas below 1 GHz a coherent mechanism predominates.

During routine monitoring of active-chromosphere stars in August 1987 an intense radio flare on the FK Comae star HD 32918 was detected by the Parkes radiotelescope. Other observatories were notified, enabling data to be collected at 843 MHz, 1.4 GHz, 8.4 GHz and optical frequencies.

The flare at radio frequencies was largely similar to a previous event on this star, reaching a peak radio power of 5 < 1012 W Hz−1 at 8.4 GHz. During the flare the spectrum varied as ∼ v1.4 and later flattened as the flare progressed. Compared to the previous flare, circular polarization was higher.

Ca II and Hα optical spectra taken at the AAO 3.9-metre telescope show the star to have a highly active chromosphere and a strong wind, with a terminal velocity of ≈230 km s−1. While much of this activity appears to be long lived, there is good evidence for an increase in the strength of the chromospheric lines during the radio flare event.

We present observations of Hα and CaII resonance lines in 4 stars having Hα features which place them intermediately between the non-(e) and (e) classifications of dK/dM stars. There is considerable variety in the shape of the Hα line, presumably due in part to differences in rotation rates. As expected, the energy fluxes in the CaII emission lines lie between those typical of non-(e) and (e) stars. There is some evidence (especially from the binary Gl 876A) that the energy fluxes in the CaII and Hα emission lines do not vary from star to star according to a simple proportionality. An intriguing result is the apparent detection of spatially displaced chromospheric emission in Gl 907.1 and Gl 890.

We discuss the appearance of solar active regions as seen in EUV line radiation in terms of a system of simple static coronal loop models. The loop models are based on those of Rosner et al. (1978) and may be understood in terms of the scaling laws introduced by these authors. We present here some generalized scaling laws which demonstrate that the global properties of loops in fixed length are insensitive to everything but the overall heating rate or the basal pressure. The model and scaling laws appear to describe hot loops (T< 106K) well. Empirically determined temperatures and densities in cooler loops are not in agreement with coronal loop models.

We have computed a simple model of an active region using a dipole magnetic structure. The individual loop structures were calculated on the basis of the two different assumptions of constant basal pressure and of constant heating rate. This paper presents a preliminary discussion of the results and a comparison with observation.

The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST) has been used to observe the Sun with total-power fan-beams having a one-dimensional resolution of 41 arcsec at 843 MHz. The scans reveal clearly the rotation and evolution of the slowly-varying component as well as some burst activity. Low radio brightness features have also been identified, but the exact relationship between these features and coronal holes is, as yet, unclear. Several partial synthesis observations have been used to generate two-dimensional radioheliograms.

Studies stimulated by the interpretation of the Elatina formation in South Australia as a fossil record of solar activity have led to discoveries of previously unnoticed features of the sunspot cycle record and to a theory of origin of the sunspot cycle that postulates a solar core in torsional motion and a magnetomechanical wave that couples to the photosphere. The considerations supporting the solar interpretation of the Elatina formation are gathered together.

Various authors have reported observations of the flux and circular polarization for the three stars PG 1658 + 441, PG 1533 − 057 and K 813 − 14. On the basis of the observational data, the stars were classified as magnetic white dwarfs. To place constraints on the magnetic field strengths and geometries of these stars, the relevant authors qualitatively compared the data with available theory and, in two cases, used a model of optically thin hydrogen threaded by a magnetic field.

In this paper we use a more detailed model for magnetic white dwarfs to assess the results previously obtained for these three stars. We find that, in two cases, the observed spectra can be explained by the Zeeman splitting of hydrogen lines in a stellar magnetic field which takes the form of a dipole situated at the centre of the star. The circular polarization data for PG 1658 + 441, however, may indicate a field geometry for this star which is significally different from that of a centred dipole.

The detection of non-radial oscillations on late-type dwarf stars may require the measurement of Doppler shifts of order 10 cm s−1. We report observations using the coudé echelle spectrograph of the 3.9 m Anglo-Australian Telescope which reveal a noise level in a 1 minute integration about a factor of one hundred greater than this. We then discuss a method of imposing a set of stable reference features on stellar spectra to permit Doppler measurements of the required accuracy. The method exploits a voltage-tuned solid Fabry-Perot interferometer whose passbands are fixed by a servo-control system to the light from a HeNe laser whose frequency is polarization-stablized. The desired wavelength stability demands careful control of the voltage, temperature and tilt of the etalon.

The Parkes 64 m telescope has been used to survey a complete sample of nearby red giants (i.e. not members of close binaries or showing strong emission lines of CaII). The sample consisted of all 82 stars in the Bright Star Catalogue within 30 pc having spectral types G, K, M and luminosity classes I, II, III south of the celestial equator.

The extreme isotropy of cosmic ray events allows one to put upper limits on any possible non-isotropic contribution to the flux. In particular, one can investigate any excess of events which may be confined to the galactic plane. Such extra events would be expected from galactic ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma-ray sources. Under the assumption of an isotropic cosmic ray flux, recent Buckland Park data place a 95% confidence level limit on the total southern hemisphere (declination −15° to −55°) flux of UHE gamma-rays at between 0.6 and 6 equivalent Cygnus X-3 sources, depending on assumptions concerning the gamma-ray spectrum.

This paper describes the SPICA array at Akeno, and discusses recent efforts made to improve the angular resolution of the array, concentrating on the determination of the departure of the shower front from a plane. Future research plans are also outlined.

The binary X-ray source GX 1 + 4 was observed during a balloon flight in 1986, November. The source was in a relatively high intensity state. Time analysis of the data shows that the pulsation period was 111.8 ± 1.0 s indicating that one or more episodes of spin-down occurred between 1980 and 1986. Folded pulse profiles are very broad with an indication of a notch at the peak. Evidence has been found for a correlation between hard X-ray intensity and phase of the proposed 304 day orbital period. The time averaged intensity since 1980 is an order of magnitude lower than during the 1970’s. A survey of the post 1980 data shows that several reversals of the period derivative have occurred. Spin-up at the rates typical of the 1970’s has been followed by a dramatic spin-down episode with dP/dt>2.4 × 10−7 s/s.

It is shown that real-time FFT techniques used in conjunction with a small telescope can yield useful sensitivity. The suitability of the Crab pulsar as a calibrator is assessed. The mains frequency modulation in the night sky above Perth is clearly discerned, with several harmonics. Detectable signal modulation limits for SN 1987A are derived as a function of frequency in the range 10-2000 Hz.

The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope is equipped with a transient event monitoring system which operates during normal synthesis observations. The device is designed to respond to impulsive signals which occur within the passband (843.0 ± 1.5 MHz) with time scales between 0.001 ms and 800 ms. The multiple beam facility of the telescope provides some discrimination against local interference. An upper limit of 1.7 × 10−2 events s−1 sr−1 has been placed on celestial events with durations between 1 ms and 25 ms and energy density ≥ 10−28 J m−2 Hz−1. The monitoring system has been recently reconfigured to improve the recognition and rejection of impulsive signals of non-celestial origin.

The Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST), operating at 843 MHz, is currently surveying the southern galactic plane (245° <l<360°, −1.5° ≤b≤ +1.5°). The resulting maps provide images of the radio continuum with a synthesised beamwidth of 43′′ × 43′′ cosec δ and a noise level of about 1mJy. The survey involves 12-hour synthesis observations of over four hundred fields on a predefined set of field centres. About half the fields have been observed to date, and the survey is scheduled for completion in 1990. A noteable feature in many of the fields is the occurrence of widespread diffuse filamentary structure, in addition to the expected supernova remants and HII regions.

A program to determine accurate radio positions and optical identifications of southern flat-spectrum radio sources has been undertaken with the six-dish array of the Fleurs synthesis telescope at 1.4 GHz and using the SERC J sky survey. This sample covers the declination range −80° to −50° and comprises all 198 sources from the Parkes catalogue with α of > −0.5 and flux density of 0.25 Jy.

The radio astrometric phase of the program is complete. We conclude that by comparison with accurate VLBI positions the FST positions have r.m.s. uncertainties of ∼0″.9. There is no global bias in the FST positions at the 0″.2 to 0″.3 level relative to the JPL VLBI extragalactic reference frame. A comparison with positions from the Parkes catalogue shows that in the southern regions the Parkes catalogue has rms position errors of about 9″. There is no significant bias between the FST and Parkes positions.

The radio source G357.7-0.1 has commonly been regarded as a galactic supernova remnant; alternative interpretations have concentrated on the pronounced brightness gradient along its major axis. Analysis of our new map shows that this brightness gradient masks an even more crucial characteristic – symmetry about the centre – the key to a totally different interpretation.

8.4 GHz linear polarization maps, obtained with the Parkes radio telescope, are presented for six southern supernova remnants. These results are compared with published and unpublished polarization maps at 5 GHz to derive the magnetic field direction and Faraday rotation measure distribution.

These results are part of a program to map the magnetic fields in galactic supernova remnants and complement our program to obtain high-resolution maps of galactic SNRs using the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope; five new Molonglo maps are presented here.