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At least 451 records · Page 25

Observations of diffuse galactic H alpha and forbidden N II emission

A study has been made of the intensities and radial velocities of faint galactic H alpha and forbidden N II 6584-emission lines not associated with any known bright H II regions. Although some (about 10%) of the observed radiation may be scattered galactic light from bright H II regions in the galactic plane, most of the radiation appears to be produced by an ionized component of the interstellar gas which is distributed throughout the interstellar medium within the three nearby galactic spiral arms. In the local Orion arm the emitting gas has a temperature between 3000 and 8000 K and mean square electron density approximately equal to 0.05 cm to the minus 6th power in the galactic plane, while in the Perseus and Sagittarius arms the mean square electron density is equal to about 0.1 and 0.9 cm to the minus 6th power, respectively.

Reynolds, R. J.↗

The galactic space frequency of close binary systems

An investigation of the galactic space frequency of close binary systems and other stars with high angular momentum is made on the basis of several criteria for the binary nature of a star. Within an accessible range of 3 kpc around the sun, which includes parts of three spiral arms, there occurs no significant variation (to within a factor of about 2) in the space frequencies of B-type radial-velocity variables, M-type supergiants with blue companions, and Be stars. Implications of this result for the problems of the origin of close binary systems, the distribution of angular momentum in the Galaxy, and the relative numbers of blue and red supergiants are discussed.

Stothers, R.↗

Atmospheric motions in red supergiants

Radial velocities obtained from interferometric spectra of a alpha Ori, alpha Her, and alpha Sco have been analyzed to investigate expansion and other large-scale motions in their atmospheres. In alpha Ori evidence of such motions is found. They appear to be sporadic in time or position on the surface of the star. If these motions are an observational indication of mass loss, they lead to extremely high instantaneous loss rates. It has not been possible to infer an average rate of mass loss.

Brooke, A. L.↗

Is the four-day 'rotation' of Venus illusory

An overlooked systematic error exists in the apparent radial velocities of solar lines reflected from regions of Venus near the terminator, owing to a combination of the finite angular size of the sun and its large equatorial velocity of rotation. This error produces an apparent, but fictitious, retrograde component of planetary rotation, typically on the order of 40 m/sec. Spectroscopic, photometric, and radiometric evidence against a 4-day atmospheric rotation is reviewed. The bulk of the somewhat contradictory evidence seems to favor slow motions, on the order of 5 m/sec, in the atmosphere of Venus; the 4-day 'rotation' may be due to a traveling wavelike disturbance, not bulk motions, driven by the UV albedo differences.

Young, A. T.↗

Isotopic abundance ratios for carbon and nitrogen in Nova Herculis 1934

Spectra of Nova Herculis 1934 taken during an episode of intense CN absorption are analyzed to determine the isotopic abundance ratios of C12/C13 and N14/N15. Synthetic spectrum analysis, based on the wavelengths, excitation potentials, and oscillator strengths for the CN lines, and radial velocity measurements indicate that C(12)N(14) was the dominant species in the Nova, and that the minimum abundance limit for C12/C13 is about 1.5, while the minimum for N14/N15 is about 2. The results are compared with predictions based on models of thermonuclear runaways in hydrogen-rich envelopes of white dwarfs. It is noted that the nova material may have been contaminated with C13-rich material prior to or during the eruption. Possible causes of this isotope enrichment are presented.

Sneden, C.↗

On the 'Seyfert Sextet', VV 115

Radial velocity observations and red shift determinations of some galaxies east of the Seyfert Sextet are discussed. It is suggested that the Sextet may be a condensation in an extended group of galaxies. The velocities of galaxies in this region are segregated into three main groups, corresponding to the redshifts of the Hercules cluster, the group including the Seyfert Sextet, and a third group as indicated by the velocities of NGC 6035 and Mark 294.

Chincarini, G.↗

Theoretical predictions of latitude dependencies in the solar wind

Results are presented which were obtained with the Winge-Coleman model for theoretical predictions of latitudinal dependencies in the solar wind. A first-order expansion is described which allows analysis of first-order latitudinal variations in the coronal boundary conditions and results in a second-order partial differential equation for the perturbation stream function. Latitudinal dependencies are analytically separated out in the form of Legendre polynomials and their derivative, and are reduced to the solution of radial differential equations. This analysis is shown to supply an estimate of how large the coronal variation in latitude must be to produce an 11 km/sec/deg gradient in the radial velocity of the solar wind, assuming steady-state processes.

Winge, C. R., Jr.↗

Interstellar absorption lines in the spectrum of zeta Ophiuchi

Extensive high-resolution scans with the Copernicus UV spectrometer are combined with available ground-based data on interstellar lines to obtain temperatures, densities, and abundances in H I clouds and H II regions in the direction of zeta Oph. Column densities are obtained for 21 elements in various ionization stages, and upper limits are reported for 5 elements and 11 molecules. Analysis of radial velocities and growth curves indicates that H2, HD, and most neutral atoms are concentrated in one cloud with a heliocentric velocity of -14.4 km/s and that H II regions exist in addition to the Stroemgren sphere. The electron and proton densities are calculated for the -14.4 km/s cloud, and the temperatures required for the populations of the fine-structure levels in the C I ground state and the excited rotational levels of H2 are computed and indicate that the dense cloud must have some associated hotter regions. Relative to hydrogen, most of the elements in the H I clouds are found to be depleted by factors of 3 to 4000 as compared with solar system abundances, and several elements appear to be depleted in the H II regions as well.

Morton, D. C.↗

Binary galaxy orbit statistics. I - Fixed mass and major axis

Averages for the projected separation, squared radial velocity difference, and the product of these, are presented for a binary galaxy system of fixed mass and major axis, but any orbital eccentricity. The average of the product varies by a factor about 3 for eccentricities from 0 to 1.0. For circular orbits, the results agree with those of Page (1952, 1960, 1961), but for linear orbits his mass estimate is too small by a factor 6. The mutual regressions of the velocity and separation on each other are calculated, and are presented in such a way as to exhibit the relative likelihood of occupation of the different parts of the regression curves. 'Isopleths' for the probability distribution are presented for a few values of the eccentricity to illustrate the underlying cause of pileup at certain parts of the regression curves. It is concluded that previous analyses were inadequate for failing to take into account that the regression curves represent in many cases a distribution that is almost wholly depopulated through most of the range. It is evident that the data are insufficient to draw a firm conclusion about the distribution of eccentricities.

Noerdlinger, P. D.↗

Interstellar K I and Na I absorption lines near rho Ophiuchi

Results are reported for photoelectric interferometric scans of the interstellar K I (7699 A) and Na I D1 absorption lines toward rho Oph AB and omicron Sco in the complex of dark clouds near rho Oph. The scans are found to reveal a well-marked line multiplicity toward both stars. It is shown that the resolved components of the line profiles can provide a natural explanation for the difference between the radial velocity of the strongest atomic lines of Na I and Ca II and that of the much weaker molecular lines of CH(+), CH, and CN that was previously observed toward rho Oph. The less saturated 7699-A lines toward both stars yield K I column densities roughly consistent with the calculated interstellar reddening.

Hobbs, L. M.↗

Mass determination for the X-ray binary system Vela X-1 (equals 3U 0900-40)

From a radial velocity study of lines of He I and the heavier ions of HD 77581 (=Vela X-1), orbital elements for this X-ray binary system are derived. Together with the orbital elements given by Rappaport and McClintock from X-ray pulsar results, this enables determination of masses for both the X-ray and the early type supergiant component.

Vanparadijs, J. A.↗

The interacting binary SCO X-1

Spectroscopic observations of Sco X-1 show conclusively that the emission lines vary in radial velocity with a period of .787 sup d + or - .006 and a full range of approximately 120 km/s. The period is identical to that found by Gottleib et al (1975) from photometric data; light minimum occurs when the emission line region is at superior conjunction. The observations indicate that the emission lines originate in an accretion disk surrounding a neutron star which is orbiting about a normal, although somewhat evolved companion. The light variation is due to a heating effect on the non degenerate star, viewed at a small inclination angle.

Cowley, A. P.↗

A photometric study of the Orion OB 1 association. 1: Observational data

An extensive catalog of observational data is presented for stars in the region of the young stellar association Orion OB 1. In addition to new photoelectric observations obtained on the uvbyB and UBV systems, photoelectric and spectroscopic data were compiled for the stars observed and for several bright members of the association having available photometric indices. Mean weighted values were computed for the uvbyB and UBV data and are tabulated in summary tables which include all references for individual values. These tables are expected to be reasonably complete for association members earlier than spectral type A0. From an analysis of currently available proper motion, radial velocity, and photometric data, membership criteria were derived and qualitative membership probabilities for 526 stars were summarized. A set of charts is included for assistance in identification of the program stars in all regions of the association.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗

Orbital changes of the gaseous ring around B sub e stars

In order to understand the seemingly erratic V/R variations and radial velocity curves of emission edges and central absorption of some Be stars, a theory is advanced to explain the changes of structure of the gaseous ring around these stars. The theory is based on the interaction between the existing ring and the newly ejected matter from the star. It shows that the structural change of the ring is completely controlled by the angular momentum input factor and the dissipation factor. In light of this understanding, the observed results of beta Mon and Pi Aqr. are interpreted.

Huang, S. S.↗

Radio observations of IC 434

Continuum radio emission and hydrogen recombination-line emission were measured at 2.37 GHz with the 64-m antenna at Goldstone, California. The radio emission has the same general distribution as the optical nebula. The radial velocity of the nebula agrees with that of the adjacent dust cloud L 1630. The electron temperature is estimated to be approximately 7000 K. The excitation of the nebula is compared with current estimates of the ionizing flux from the exciting star, sigma Orionis.

Kuiper, T. B. H.↗

Confirmation of interstellar N2H/+/

The proposed identification of the triplet of interstellar lines recently discovered at 93.174 GHz with the molecular ion N2H(+) is confirmed by resolving the predicted hyperfine structure of the inner nitrogen nucleus in the narrow-line molecular source OMC-2 in the Orion Nebula. The hyperfine constants of N2H(+) are derived from the observational data, and the rest center frequency of the J = 1-0 rotational transition is determined. It is noted that the full width at half-maximum of the weakest line (F sub 1 = 0-1) is only 230 kHz (0.74 km/sec in radial velocity), making it the narrowest molecular emission line (excluding maser point sources) thus far observed in the direction of a H II region or IR source.

Thaddeus, P.↗

Collections of cosmic dust

Some recent results of collection experiments in the upper atmosphere by rocket techniques, by balloon collections in the intermediate atmosphere, and by recoverable satellites in near-earth space are described. Evidence is presented for the existence of relatively high and variable fluxes of submicron particles entering the atmosphere. These submicron-particle collections are consistent with implications from zodiacal light studies, provided the particles have a solar origin and are drifting outward with a constant radial velocity. A simple estimate suggests that these particles, by virtue of their refractory nature, can survive ejection from the sun near sunspots.

Hemenway, C. L.↗

Interpretation of OAO-2 ultraviolet light curves of beta Doradus

Middle-ultraviolet light curves of beta Doradus, obtained by OAO-2, are presented along with other evidence indicating that the small additional bumps observed on the rising branches of these curves have their origin in shock-wave phenomena in the upper atmosphere of this classical Cepheid. A simple piston-driven spherical hydrodynamic model of the atmosphere is developed to explain the bumps, and the calculations are compared with observations. The model is found to be consistent with the shapes of the light curves as well as with measurements of the H-alpha radial velocities.

Hutchinson, J. L.↗