Messenger No. 84 (June 1996)

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Telescopes and Instrumentation

1-4 (PDF)
M. Quattri
Main structure: progress and first test results.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84....1Q
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Quattri, M.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
A progress report of the construction of the VLT.
4-6 (PDF)
P. Quinn, G. Raffi
The VLT software review.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84....4Q
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Quinn, P.; Raffi, G.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
A status review of the VLT control software.

The La Silla News Page

5-6 (PDF)
J. Spyromilio
Additional news from the La Silla site

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84....5S
Section:
The La Silla News Page
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Spyromilio, J.
AA(ESO)
7-7 (PDF)
C. Lidman
A New CCD for the B&C Spectrograph on the ESO 1.52-m Telescope

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84....7L
Section:
The La Silla News Page
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Lidman, C.
AA(ESO)
7-8 (PDF)
J. Storm
News at the Danish 1.54-m Telescope

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84....7S
Section:
The La Silla News Page
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Storm, J.
AA(ESO)
8-8 (PDF)
C. Lidman, H. Gemperlein
IRAC1 – Back in Good Shape

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84....8L
Section:
The La Silla News Page
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Lidman, C.; Gemperlein, H.

8-9 (PDF)
G. Ihle
The Mechanical Support Team (MST)

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84....8I
Section:
The La Silla News Page
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Ihle, G.

Science with the VLT/VLTI

10-12 (PDF)
A. Renzini
The early Universe with the VLT. Highlights of the ESO workshop, 1 - 4 Apr 1996.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...10R
Section:
Science with the VLT/VLTI
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Renzini, A.
AA(ESO)

Reports from Observers

13-16 (PDF)
C. Dumas, O. R. Hainaut
First ground-based mapping of the asteroid Vesta

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...13D
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Dumas, C.; Hainaut, O. R.
AA(Observatoire de Paris-Meudon (DESPA) and University of Hawaii (IfA)) AB(University of Hawaii (IfA))
Abstract:
Asteroid 4 Vesta has been imaged in the Near-Infrared using the ESO 3.6-m telescope equipped with the Come-On-Plus adaptive optics system. The result of these observations is the first mineralogic map of a minor planet obtained from ground-based observations. We will discuss the data acquisition and reduction techniques that we used and developed, and present our ground-based observational prospects.
References:
Adorf, H. M. 1990, ST-ECF Newsletter 14, 8–12.
Albrecht, R. 1992, “HST Observations of 1 Ceres”, BAAS 24 (3), 970.
Bobrovnikoff, N. T. 1929, “The Spectra of Minor Planets”, Lick Obs. Bull. 14, 18–27.
Buil, C. 1991, “CCD Astronomy”, 209, Willmann-Bell, Richmond.
Drummond, J.D., E.K. Hege 1989, “Speckle Interferometry of Asteroids”, in Asteroids II (R. P. Binzel, T. Gehrels, M. S. Matthews Eds), 171–191, Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson.
Drummond, J., A. Eckart, E.K. Hege 1988, “Speckle Interferometry of Asteroids – IV. Reconstructed Images of 4 Vesta”, Icarus 73, 1–14.
Dumas, C., O.R. Hainaut 1996, “Ground-Based Mapping of the Asteroid 4 Vesta” (in preparation to be submitted to Icarus).
Fanale, F.P., J.R. Salvail 1989, “The Water Regime of Asteroid 1 Ceres”, Icarus 82, 87–110.
Gaffey, M. J., W. Hall 1995, “Surface Lithogic Heterogeneity of Asteroid 4 Vesta”, submitted to Icarus.
Hainaut, O. 1994, thesis dissertation, Université de Liège and ESO, 154–161.
Hiroi, T., R.P. Binzel, J.M. Sunshine C. M. Pieters, H. Takeda 1995, “Grain Sizes and Mineral Compositions of Surface regoliths of Vesta-Like Asteroids”, Icarus 115, 374–386.
Lebofsky, L.A., M.A. Feierberg, A.T. Tokunaga, H.P. Larson, J.R. Johnson 1981, “The 1.7 μm – 4.2 μm Spectrum of Asteroid 1 Ceres: Evidence for Structural Water in Clay Minerals”, Icarus 48, 453–459.
Lebofsky, L.A. 1980, “Infrared Reflectance Spectra of Asteroids: a Search for Water of Hydration”, Astron.J. 85, 573– 585.
Magnusson, P. 1989, “Pole Determinations of Asteroids”, in Asteroids II (R.P. Binzel, T. Gehrels, M.S. Matthews Eds), 1180–1190, Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson.
McCord, T.B., J.B. Adams, T.V. Thomson 1970, “Asteroid Vesta: Spectral Reflectivity and Compositional Implications”, Science 168, 1445–1447.
Meyer, Y. 1989, “Wavelets”, Combes J. M. et al. Eds, 21, Springer Verlag, Berlin.
Millis, R.L., L.H. Wasserman, O.G. Franz, R.A. Nye et al. 1987, “The Size, Shape, Density, and Albedo of Ceres from its Occultation of BD+8.471°”, Icarus 72, 507–518.
St Pé, O., M. Combes, F. Ribaut, Tomasko M., Fulchignoni M. 1993, “Demonstration of Adaptive Optics for Resolved Imagery of Solar System Objects: Preliminary Results on Pallas and Titan”, Icarus 105, 263–270.
St Pé, O., M. Combes, F. Ribaut 1993, “Ceres Surface Properties by High-Resolution Imaging from Earth”, Icarus 105, 271–281.
Thomas, P.C., R.P. Binzel, M.J. Gaffey, A. Storrs, E.N. Wells, B. Zellner, 1995, “Vesta: HST Observations of Shape, Spin Pole and Surface Features”, Abstract DPS Meeting.
Wampler, E.J. 1992, “FFT Removal of Pattern Noise in CCD Images”, The Messenger 70, 82
17-18 (PDF)
R. C. Kraan-Korteweg, P. A. Woudt et al.
A massive galaxy cluster at the core of the Great Attractor.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...17K
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Kraan-Korteweg, R. C.; Woudt, P. A.; Cayatte, V.; Fairall, A. P.; Balkowski, C.; Henning, P. A.
AA(Observatoire de Paris, DAEC, Unité associée au CNRS, D0173, et à l’Université Paris 7, Meudon, France) AB(Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa) AC(Observatoire de Paris, DAEC, Unité associée au CNRS, D0173, et à l’Université Paris 7, Meudon, France) AD(Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa) AE(Observatoire de Paris, DAEC, Unité associée au CNRS, D0173, et à l’Université Paris 7, Meudon, France) AF(Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA)
Abstract:
A deep survey for partially-obscured galaxies behind the southern Milky Way revealed the cluster A 3627 to be the most prominent cluster in the southern hemisphere.
References:
Böhringer, H., Neumann, D.M., Schindler, S., & Kraan-Korteweg, R.C., 1996, ApJ, in press.
Felenbok, P, Guérin, J., Fernandez, A., Cayatte, V., Balkowski, C., & Kraan-Korteweg, R.C., 1996, A&A, submitted.
Kolatt, T., Dekel, A., & Lahav, O., 1995, MNRAS 275,797.
Kraan-Korteweg, R.C., Woudt, P.A., Cayatte, V., Fairall, A.P., Balkowski, C., & Henning, P.A., 1996, Nature, 379,519.
Lynden-Bell, D., Faber, S.M., Burstein, D., Davies, R.L., Dressler, A., Terlevich, R.J. & Wegner, G.,1988, ApJ 326,19.
18-20 (PDF)
H. Zinnecker, T. Stanke et al.
10- and 17-μm test images of the Galactic Centre: massive protostars near Sgr A*?

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...18Z
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Zinnecker, H.; Stanke, T.; Käufl, H. U.
AA(Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam) AB(Astronomisches Institut, Universität Würzburg) AC(ESO-Garching)
Abstract:
The authors have obtained 10 and 17 micron images of the central square-parsec of the Galaxy. The images indicate that the morphological structure of the innermost parsec of the Galactic Centre is rather similar at both wavelengths, but differs significantly at certain locations, in particular at the position of IRS3. This compact source projected about 2 arcsec west and 4 arcsec north of SgrA* is found to have an extinction corrected spectral energy distribution peaked near 10 microns and may be a massive protostar (Lbol > 104Lsun) or a cluster of protostars near the Galactic Centre. In none of the images, mid-infrared emission from SgrA* is detected.
References:
Becklin, E. et al., 1978, ApJ 219, 121.
Genzel, R., 1989, IAU Symp 136 (ed. M. Morris).
Genzel, R., Eckart, A., Krabbe, A., 1995, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 759, 38 (eds. Böhringer, H., Morfill, G.E., Trümper, J. (Proc. 17th Texas Symposium Munich).
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Gezari, D. et al., 1994a, in: The Nuclei of Normal Galaxies: Lessons from the Galactic Center, eds. R. Genzel and A. Harrig, Kluwer, p. 343.
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Jackson, J.M. et al., 1993, ApJ 402, 173.
Käufl, H.U. et al., 1992, The Messenger 70, 67.
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Käufl, H.U. 1995, in ESO/ST-ECF Workshop on Calibration and Understanding HST and ESO Instruments, ed. P. Benvenuti, p. 99.
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20-23 (PDF)
F. Durret, P. Felenbok et al.
Redshift and photometric survey of the X-ray cluster of galaxies Abell 85.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...20D
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Durret, F.; Felenbok, P.; Gerbal, D.; Guibert, J.; Lobo, C.; Slezak, E.
AA(Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris & DAEC, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon) AB(DAEC, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon) AC(DAEC, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon) AD(CAI, Observatoire de Paris) AE(Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris & CAUP, Porto) AF(O.C.A., Nice)
Abstract:
The authors have chosen to analyse in detail a few clusters of galaxies, by combining optical and X-ray data. They present results on the first of the two clusters observed at ESO: Abell 85. The combined data obtained with the MAMA measuring machine, CCD imaging and spectroscopy with MEFOS have led to one of the richest velocity catalogues for a single cluster. This will allow a detailed analysis of the physical properties of Abell 85, which will be compared to those derived from X-rays
References:
Arnouts S., de Lapparent V., Mathez G. et al. 1996, A&AS in press.
Beers T.C., Forman W., Huchra J.P., Jones C., Gebhardt K. 1991, AJ 102, 1581.
Bellanger C., de Lapparent V., Arnouts S., et al. 1995, A&AS 110, 159.
Biviano A., Durret F., Gerbal D., Le Fèvre O., Lobo C., Mazure A., Slezak E. 1996, A&A in press.
Gerbal D., Durret F., Lima-Neto G., Lachièze-Rey M. 1992, A&A 253, 77.
Lobo C., Biviano A., Durret F., Gerbal D., Le Fèvre O., Mazure A., Slezak E. 1996, A&A submitted.
Malumuth E.M., Kriss G.A., Van Dyke Dixon W., Ferguson H.C., Ritchie C. 1992, AJ 104, 495.
Murphy P. 1984, MNRAS 211, 637.
Pislar V., Durret F., Gerbal D., Lima-Neto G., Slezak E., 1996, to be submitted to A&A.
Serna A., Gerbal D. 1996, A&A in press.
Slezak E. Durret F. Gerbal D. 1994, AJ 108, 1996.
23-26 (PDF)
T. Wiklind, F. Combes
Fishing for absorption lines with SEST. The redshift of the gravitational lens to PKS 1830-211.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...23W
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Wiklind, T.; Combes, F.
AA(Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden) AB(DEMIRM, Observatoire de Paris, France)
Abstract:
Molecular gas is the cold and dense part of the interstellar medium (ISM) which is directly involved in the formation of stars. The possibility of studying this ISM component at high redshifts would give us an insight in the conditions for stellar formation when these may have been quite different from what is seen in present-day galaxies. Gravitationally magnified CO emission is not the only means to study molecular gas at high redshifts. Just as in the optical wavelength band, it is easier to detect molecular absorption lines than the corresponding emission lines and, with an appropriate alignment of an intervening galaxy and a background radio continuum source, it is possible to probe the molecular ISM at very large distances.
References:
Barvainis et al. 1994, Nature, 371, 586.
Brown, R.L., Vanden Bout, P.A. 1991, AJ 102, 1956.
Casoli, F., Encrenaz, P., Fort, B., Boisse, P., Mellier, Y. 1996, A&A, L41.
Combes, F., Wiklind, T. 1995, A&A 303, L61.
Combes, F., Wiklind, T. 1996, in Cold Gas at High Redshifts, eds. Bremer, M., Röttgering, H., van der Werf, P & Carilli, C., Kluwer.
Djorgovski, S., Meylan, G., Klemola, A., Thompson, D.J., Weir, W.N., Swarup, G., Rao, A.P., Subrahmanyan, R. Smette, A. 1992, MNRAS 257, 240.
Kochaneck, C.S. Narayan, R. 1992, ApJ 401, 461.
Matthews, K., et al. 1994, ApJ 420, L13.
Nair, S., Narashima, D. Rao, A.P. 1993, ApJ 407, 46.
Patnaik, A.R., Browne, I.W.A., King, L.J., Muxlow, T.W.B., Walsh, D., Wilkinson, P.N. 1993, MNRAS 261, 435.
Radford, S.J.E. 1996, in Cold gas at High Redshifts, eds. Bremer, M., Röttgering, H., van der Werf, P & Carilli, C.L., Kluwer.
Steppe, H., Paubert, G., Sievers, A., Reuter, H.P., Greve, A., Liechti, S., Le Floch, B., Brunswig, W., Menéndez, C. & Sanchez, S. 1993, A&AS 102, 611.
Subrahmanyan, R., Narasimha, D., Rao, A.P. Swarup, G. 1990, MNRAS 246, 263.
Wiklind, T. Combes, F. 1994, A&A 286, L9.
Wiklind, T. Combes, F. 1995, A&A 299, 382.
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Wiklind, T., Combes, F. 1996b, A&A in press.
26-29 (PDF)
H. Boehnhardt, H. U. Kaeufl et al.
The break-up of periodic comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3: image documents from La Silla telescopes.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...26B
Section:
Reports from Observers
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Boehnhardt, H.; Kaeufl, H. U.; Goudfrooij, P.; Storm, J.; Manfroid, J.; Reinsch, K.
AA(Universitäts-Sternwarte München, Germany) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(University of Liège, Belgium) AF(Universitäts-Sternwarte Göttingen, Germany)
Abstract:
The splitting of SW3 in 1995 was an other example of how brittle cometary nuclei are. Unlike in most previous events, however, the break-up of SW3 is well documented by high-quality ground-based observations. SW3 represents an excellent candidate for a comprehensive analysis of cometary fragmentation, which could lead to a better understanding of the the disintegration processes involved in the evolution of comets.
References:
Belyaev, N.A., Kresak, L., Pittich, E.M., Pushkaev, A.N.: 1986, Catalogue of Short-Period Comets, Slovak Acad. Sciences, Bratislava.
Birkle, K., Boehnhardt, H.: 1996, SuW 34, 782.
Boehnhardt, H., Kaeufl, H.U.: 1995, IAU Circ. 6274.
Crovisier, J., Biver, N., Bockelee-Morvan, D. et al.: 1995, IAU Circ. 6227.
Crovisier, J., Bockelee-Morvan, D., Gerard, E. et al.: 1996, A&A, submitted. Sekanina, Z.: 1982, in Comets (ed. L.L. Wilkening), Univ. Arizona Press, 251.
Sekanina, Z., Boehnhardt, H., Kaeufl, H.U.: 1996, IAU Circ. 6301.

Other Astronomical News

30-33 (PDF)
P. Quinn
The ESO data management division.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...30Q
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Quinn, P.
AA(ESO Data Management Division)
Abstract:
The ESO Data Management Division was formed to design and implement the Science Data Flow System for the VLT. Beginning in 1994, the division was formed from pre-existing groups at ESO whose responsibilities covered proposal submission, data archiving and the processing of ESO telescope data using the MIDAS system. By the end of 1995, the division consisted of three main components: the Science Archive Group, the Data Pipeline Group and the User Support Group. Each of these groups addresses specific components in the Data Flow System.
34-35 (PDF)
P. Amico, T. Böhm
The Optical Detector Team WWW pages.

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...34A
Section:
Other Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Amico, P.; Böhm, T.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
ESO's Optical Detector Team (ODT) was formed in the first half of 1995 in order to improve the quality of ESO's optical detector systems. One of the first tasks was to improve communication of system performance to the ESO community. The authors initiated the development of a ODT Web cluster, a cohesive whole designed to maximise usability and completeness of information on optical detectors within the ESO Web.

Announcements

36-36 (PDF)
C. Madsen
The King of Sweden Visits ESO Exhibition

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84...36M
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Madsen, C.
AA(ESO)
37-37 (PDF)
ESO
ESO Workshop on Galaxy Scaling Relations: Origins, Evolution and Applications

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84Q..37.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
37-37 (PDF)
ESO
Three Vacancies on La Silla for: Astronomer/Team Leader (CSO401), Infrared Astronomer (CSO402), Astronomer (CSO502)

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84R..37.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
38-38 (PDF)
ESO
Mr. Gerhard Bachmann Retired

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84T..38.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
38-38 (PDF)
ESO
ESO Fellowship Programme 1997/98

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84S..38.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
38-38 (PDF)
ESO
New ESO Proceedings Available The Proceedings of the OSA/ESO topical Meeting on Adaptive Optics

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84Q..38.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
38-39 (PDF)
ESO
New ESO Preprints

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84R..38.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
39-39 (PDF)
ESO
Personnel movements

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84Q..39.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
39-39 (PDF)
ESO
ESO Proceedings Still Available

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84R..39.
Section:
Announcements
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)

Messenger Index

40-40 (PDF)
ESO
Contents

ADS BibCode:
1996Msngr..84Q..40.
Section:
Messenger Index
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)