Messenger No. 9 (June 1977)
1-1 (PDF)
ESO Workshop on Populations in the Magellanic Clouds
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9....1B
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Bergeron, J.
AA(ESO, Geneva)
Abstract:
The second ESO workshop took place in Geneva, at the ESO Scientific-Technical Centre from April 27 to 29,1977. Over fifteen groups working in this field in Europe were represented at this workshop. About thirty-five invited scientists from all ESO countries, as well as England, South Africa and Canada, discussed and compared their recent activities, results and future plans.
1-3 (PDF)
Profile of a Visitor's Programme: A Galactic Window at I = 311 degree
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9R...1.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
There are reasons to believe that several nearby galaxies (possibly even members of the Local Group) still hide behind the absorbing layers of the galactic plane. Last month, a new, local dwarfelliptical galaxy was discovered in the constellation Carina by a group of astronomers at the Edinburgh Observatory and a thorough investigation of another, the so-called Circinus galaxy, was published in Astronomy & Astrophysics. The discoverer of this galaxy, Dr. Gösta Lynga of the Lund Observatory, discusses some aspects of this research and also reports on electronographic observations with the new ESO Spectracon camera.
1-1 (PDF)
Announcement
3-3 (PDF)
ESO Santiago Offices Let to UN
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9....3.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
ESO Santiago Offices Let to UN
4-5 (PDF)
Probable Optical Identification of LMC X-4
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9....4C
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Chevalier, C. ; Sergio, A.
AA(IIovaisky, Observatoire de Meudon) AB(IIovaisky, Observatoire de Meudon)
Abstract:
Among the five X-ray sources known to exist in the Large Magellanic Cloud, none has up to now been positively idenlified with an optical object. However, this situation may change in the near future as X-ray satellites point to the source known as LMC X-4. The existence of this source was announced in 1972 as a result of the first X-ray survey of the sky by the UHURU satellite; it was also detected by the Ariel 5 and SAS-3 satellites and there is now definite evidence for variability, including flares.
5-6 (PDF)
A Search for Anomalous Tails of Short-period Comets
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9....5.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Should any future comet display a spectacular sunward spike like the one Comet Arend-Roland exhibited in late April 1957, it would not surprise observers any more. Recent dynamical studies of cometary dust by Z. Sekanina at the Centre for Astrophysics of the Harvard College and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatories led to the understanding of the behaviour of the sunward, "anomalous" tails or "antitails", to the recognition of the rules that determine the conditions of visibility of these phenomena, and thus to the possibility of their routine predictions.
6-8 (PDF)
Optical Identification of a Strong Southern Radio Source
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9....6.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
There is good reason to believe that one of the strongest, so far unidentified southern radio sources has finally been photographed with the ESO Schmidt and 3.6-m telescopes.
8-8 (PDF)
Staff Movements
8-8 (PDF)
Progress Report 3.6-m Telescope
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9....8L
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Laustsen, S.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
A piece of good news can be reported: the Cassegrain focus of the 3.6-m telescope is operational. The technical staft around the instrument has, it seems, already acquired a considerable routine in getting a piece of equipment to work. It all went very smoothly with the Cassegrain, the mechanical installation, the electronic control, the optical alignment and tests and finally the astronomical tests and further software development.
8-8 (PDF)
Saturn Photographed at the Cassegrain Focus of the ESO 3.6-metre Telescope
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9R...8.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Saturn Photographed at the Cassegrain Focus of the ESO 3.6-metre Telescope
9-10 (PDF)
The French H II Region Programme in the Large Magellanic Cloud
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9....9D
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Duval, M.F.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
In parallel with the photometrie and spectrometrie observations of LMC stars undertaken at the Marseille Observatory, and for which E. Maurice recently presented a summary (The Messenger, No. 7, December 1976), interferometrie observations of H II regions have been made from 1969 to 1973 at La Silla.
11-12 (PDF)
What Does the Helium Abundance in Young Stars Tell Us About the Universe?
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...11W
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Walter, K.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
Surely, Algol systems and W UMa stars are evenly distributed over the whole sky, and close binaries with circumstellar matter in their surroundings can therefore be observed from the northern as well as from the southern hemisphere. But the number of really outstanding eclipsing variables of this kind----like U Cep with its strange light-curve outside the eclipses, which has been known since the days of Dugan, and with its spectral peculiarities-is not large, and it may therefore be considered very worthwhile to test southern eclipsing binaries in the hope of discovering new, particularly interesting systems. Let us first consider the systems of Algol type, i. e. systems in which the light minima are well defined and the light-curve outside the minima is reasonably flat; the prototype is ß Persei, also called Algol.
12-14 (PDF)
What Does the Helium Abundance in Young Stars Tell Us About the Universe?
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...12N
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Nissen, P.E.
AA(Astronomical Institute of the Arhus University in Denmark)
Abstract:
Dr. Poul Erik Nissen from the Astronomical Institute of the Arhus University in Denmark has recently used the ESO 1-metre telescope to investigate the very early moments of the Universe just after the "Big Bang" !Many people may wonder how a comparatively small telescope can penetrate into the area of astronomy that is normally reserved for the largest telescopes. The surprising answer is given by Dr. Nissen in the following introduction to the theoretical and practical aspects of his programme:
14-15 (PDF)
HD80383: The Faintest Known ß Cep Variable
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...14H
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Haug, U.
AA(Hamburg Observatory)
Abstract:
Until recently no ß Cephei stars fainter than 7^m were known, but now observations on La Silla by Dr. Ulrich Haug of the Hamburg Observatory seem to have pushed this limit to 9^m. He found light variations in HD 80383, a faint B star in the southern constellation Vela, which are typical of the ß Cep class of hot, pulsating stars. Dr. Haug reports about his interesting discovery:
15-16 (PDF)
The Recovery of Adonis
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...15.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The ESO 1-metre Schmidt telescope has just played an important role in the successful recovery of a long-lost minor planet.
16-17 (PDF)
An Extremely Red Star
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...16.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
An Extremely Red Star (Continued)
17-17 (PDF)
Some Recent Developments in ESO
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...17.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
While the successful completion of the ESO 3.6-m teleScope was making the headlines, some other important developments were hardly noticed.
18-18 (PDF)
A New Planetary Nebula
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...18.
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
A New Planetary Nebula
18-20 (PDF)
The Control System of the ESO 3.6-metre Telescope
ADS BibCode:
1977Msngr...9...18L
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Lorensen, S.
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
The first visiting astronomers to the 3.6-m telescope are expected to show up sometime in October 1977. Continuing the Messenger series of descriptions of the various parts of the large telescope, Dr. Svend Lorensen from ESO/Geneva here intraduces the control system for which he has written the software. Unlike most of the mechanical parts of the telescope, the contral programme will interact directly with the observers and it is of great importance that it is "astronomer-friendly". Those who have used the system so far are very happy with its performance and it is good to know that further improvements can easily be inserted into the very flexible system whenever this will be required.
20-20 (PDF)
Algunos Resumenes