Messenger No. 158 (December 2014)

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The Organisation

2-2 (PDF)
ESO
Signing of ESO–Poland Accession Agreement

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158....2.
Section:
The Organisation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
Abstract:
An agreement was signed by Professor Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education, and the ESO Director General Tim de Zeeuw in Warsaw on 28 October 2014 that will lead to the country joining ESO. The signing of the agreement followed its unanimous approval by the ESO Council during an extraordinary meeting on 8 October 2014. Poland will be welcomed as a new Member State, following subsequent ratification of the accession agreement by the Polish Parliament. Tim de Zeeuw’s speech at this ceremony is reproduced below.
3-6 (PDF)
T. de Zeeuw, R. Tamai et al.
Constructing the E-ELT

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158....3Z
Section:
The Organisation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
de Zeeuw, T.; Tamai, R.; Liske, J.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)
Abstract:
At its meeting on 3 and 4 December 2014, the ESO Council gave the green light for the construction of the E-ELT in two phases and authorised spending of up to 1012.5 million euros on Phase 1, which will provide a fully working 39-metre telescope with a suite of powerful instruments. It will allow the initial characterisation of earth-mass exoplanets, studies of the resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies as well as ultrasensitive observations of the deep Universe. This article provides the context for this momentous decision and describes the two-phase approach.

Telescopes and Instrumentation

8-15 (PDF)
F. Primas, L. Tacconi-Garman et al.
Fifteen Years of Service Mode Operations: Closing the Loop with the Community

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158....8P
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Primas, F.; Tacconi-Garman, L.; Marteau, S.; Mainieri, V.; Rejkuba, M.; Mysore, S.; Dumas, C.; Kaufer, A.; Patat, F.; Sterzik, M.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(ESO) AE(ESO) AF(ESO) AG(ESO) AH(ESO) AI(ESO) AJ(ESO)
Abstract:
The first Service Mode (SM) observations with the VLT were made by ISAAC in April 1999. Since then new instruments have become operational and first generation ones replaced, filling the 12 VLT foci and feeding the VLT Interferometer and its four Auxiliary Telescopes. Efficiently operating such a broad range of instruments, installed and available every night of each year, on four 8-metre telescopes offers many challenges. Although it may appear that little has changed since 1999, the underlying VLT operational model has evolved in order to accommodate different requirements from the user community and features of new instruments. As ESO and its Member States approach routine operations with ALMA, and at the same time prepare for the next challenge, the construction of the E-ELT, it seems timely to take a closer look at what SM has brought to the scientific arena, both in terms of science data and support. Did it fulfil its original goal, if so, how well, and what are the lessons learned? A careful analysis of statistics and trends in Phase 1 and Phase 2 are now being conducted in the DOME (Dashboard for Operational Metrics at ESO) project. We summarise the main findings, concentrating on the handling of Service Mode.
References:
Bierwirth, T. et al. 2010, Proc. SPIE, 7737, 77370W Comerón, F. E. et al. 2003, The Messenger, 113, 32; Hanuschik, R. & Silva, D. 2002, The Messenger, 108, 4; Patat, F. & Hussain, G. 2013, in Organizations, People and Strategies in Astronomy 2 (OPSA 2), ed. Heck, A., 231; Primas, F. et al. 2012, Proc. SPIE, 8448, 84480L Quinn, P. et al. 2000, Proc. SPIE, 4010, 56; Silva, D. 2001, The Messenger, 105, 18
16-20 (PDF)
S. Moehler, A. Modigliani et al.
Flux Calibration of Medium Resolution Spectra from 300 nm to 2500 nm — Model Reference Spectra and Telluric Correction

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...16M
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Moehler, S.; Modigliani, A.; Freudling, W.; Giammichele, N.; Gianninas, A.; Gonneau, A.; Kausch, W.; Lançon, A.; Noll, S.; Rauch, T.; Vinther, J.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO) AD(Département de Physique, Université de Montréal, Canada) AE(Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma, USA) AF(Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, France) AG(Institut für Astro-und Teilchenphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Austria) AH(Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, France) AI(Institut für Astro-und Teilchenphysik, Universität Innsbruck, Austria) AJ(Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Kepler Center for Astro and Particle Physics, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany) AK(ESO)
Abstract:
A procedure to obtain reference spectra for flux standard stars from stellar model atmospheres is described. This procedure allows users to derive instrument response curves from 300 nm to 2500 nm. The technique was developed using X-shooter spectra, but is general and can also be applied to higher resolution spectra. In addition an automatic method has been defined to correct for moderate telluric absorption using telluric model spectra with very high spectral resolution that can easily be adapted to observed data.
References:
Bergeron, P., Saffer, R. A. & Liebert, J. 1992, ApJ, 394, 228; Bohlin, R. C., Dickinson, M. E. & Calzetti, D. 2001, AJ, 122, 2118; Clough, S. A. et al. 2005, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 91, 233; Freudling, W. et al. 2013, A&A, 559, A96; Giammichele, N., Bergeron, P. & Dufour, P. 2012, ApJS, 199, 29; Hamuy, M. et al. 1992, PASP, 104, 533; Hamuy, M. et al. 1994, PASP, 106, 566; Koester, D. 2010, MmSAI, 81, 921; Moehler, S. et al. 2014, A&A, 568, A9; Noll, S. et al. 2012, A&A, 543, A92; Rothman, L. S. et al. 2009, J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 110, 533; Vernet, J. et al. 2008, SPIE, 7016, 70161G
21-24 (PDF)
F. Royer, I. Jégouzo et al.
The GIRAFFE Archive: Reduced Spectra and Datacubes from the VLT FLAMES GIRAFFE Spectrograph

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...21R
Section:
Telescopes and Instrumentation
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Royer, F.; Jégouzo, I.; Haigron, R.; Tajahmady, F.; Plassard, F.
AA(GEPI, CNRS/UMR 8111, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris Denis Diderot, Meudon, France) AB(GEPI, CNRS/UMR 8111, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris Denis Diderot, Meudon, France) AC(GEPI, CNRS/UMR 8111, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris Denis Diderot, Meudon, France) AD(GEPI, CNRS/UMR 8111, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris Denis Diderot, Meudon, France) AE(GEPI, CNRS/UMR 8111, Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris Denis Diderot, Meudon, France)
Abstract:
Since 2003, the intermediate- and high-resolution multi-fibre spectrograph GIRAFFE, part of the FLAMES facility, has been producing 1D spectra in its multi-object configuration and 3D spectra using its integral field unit configurations. Raw data are available in the ESO archive. The GIRAFFE archive (http://giraffe-archive.obspm.fr) offers the community, via a web interface and the Virtual Observatory (VO), access to reduced scientific data. The web interface to the database allows the use of a large range of selection criteria, including individual target positions, magnitudes and signal-to-noise ratios, together with an interactive quick look at the reduced data. Two collections are available in the VO: the 1D spectra (summed in the case of integral field observations) and the 3D field observations.
References:
Boch, T. & Fernique, P. 2014, in ADASS XXIII, ASP Conf. Series, 485, 277; Kuntschner, H. et al. 2012, The Messenger, 150, 30; Noll, S. et al. 2014, A&A, 567, A25; Pasquini, L. et al. 2002, The Messenger, 110, 1; Stoehr, F. et al. 2008, in ADASS XVII, ASP Conf. Series, 394, 505

Astronomical Science

26-29 (PDF)
W. Steffen, M. Teodoro et al.
The Eta Carinae Homunculus in Full 3D with X-shooter and Shape

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...26S
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Steffen, W.; Teodoro, M.; Madura, T. I.; Groh, J. H.; Gull, T. R.; Mehner, A.; Corcoran, M. F.; Damineli, A.; Hamaguchi, K.
AA(Instituto de Astronomía, UNAM, Ensenada, Mexico) AB(Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA) AC(Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA) AD(Geneva Observatory, Geneva University, Sauverny, Switzerland) AE(Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA) AF(ESO) AG(Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA) AH(Instituto de Astronomía, Geofísica e Cîencias Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil) AI(Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA)
Abstract:
Massive stars like Eta Carinae are extremely rare in comparison to stars such as the Sun, and currently we know of only a handful of stars with masses of more than 100 Msun in the Milky Way. Such massive stars were much more frequent in the early history of the Universe and had a huge impact on its evolution. Even among this elite club, η Car is outstanding, in particular because of its giant eruption around 1840 that produced the beautiful bipolar nebula now known as the Homunculus. In this study, we used detailed spatio-kinematic information obtained from X-shooter spectra to reconstruct the 3D structure of the Homunculus. The small-scale features suggest that the central massive binary played a significant role in shaping the Homunculus.
References:
Damineli, A. et al. 2008, MNRAS, 386, 2330; Davidson, K. & Humphreys, R. M. (eds.) 2012, Eta Carinae and the Supernova Impostors, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, (New York: Springer), 384; Groh, J. H. et al. 2010, A&A, 517, A9; Gull, T. R. et al. 2009, MNRAS, 396, 1308; Ishibashi, K. et al. 2003, AJ, 125, 3222; Madura, T. I. 2012, MNRAS, 420, 2064; Madura, T. I. et al. 2013, MNRAS, 436, 3820; Steffen, W. et al. 2011, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 17, 4, 454; Steffen, W. et al. 2014, MNRAS, 442, 3316; Teodoro, M. et al. 2008, MNRAS, 287, 564
30-34 (PDF)
Y.-P. Chen, S. C. Trager et al.
The X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL) and its First Data Release

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...30C
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Chen, Y.-P.; Trager, S. C.; Peletier, R. F.; Lançon, A.; Vazdekis, A.; Prugniel, P.; Silva, D.; Gonneau, A.; Lyubenova, M.; Koleva, M.; Barroso, J. F.; Blázquez, P. S.; Walcher, C. J.; Choudhury, O. S.; Meneses-Goytia, S.
AA(NYU Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, the Netherlands) AB(Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, the Netherlands) AC(Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, the Netherlands) AD(Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, UMR 7550, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, France) AE(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) AF(CRAL, Observatoire de Lyon, UMR 5574, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, France) AG(National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Tucson, USA) AH(Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, UMR 7550, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, France; Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, the Netherlands) AI(Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, the Netherlands) AJ(Sterrenkundig Observatorium, Ghent University, Belgium) AK(Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain) AL(Departamento de Física Teórica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain) AM(Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Potsdam, Germany) AN(Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP), Potsdam, Germany) AO(Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, the Netherlands)
Abstract:
Stellar spectral libraries play a pivotal role in astrophysics, helping us to understand the physics of stars and build models of stellar populations in order to study distant star clusters and galaxies. Aspects of current stellar spectral libraries that require improvement are: better calibrations, more stars, higher spectral resolution and broader wavelength coverage. The X-shooter spectrograph is well suited to the task, and we are building the X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL) of more than 700 stars covering the entire Hertzsprung–Russell diagram in the wavelength range 300–2480 nm at a mean resolving power of 10 000. Here we describe the sample, observations and reduction of the data, concentrating on the flux-calibrated, telluric-corrected near-ultraviolet and optical spectra of the first 237 unique stars observed in the first year of the survey. These spectra, the first data release, are now available at http://xsl.u-strasbg.fr/.
References:
Bagnulo, S. et al. 2003, The Messenger, 114, 10; Cenarro, A. J. et al. 2001, MNRAS, 326, 959; Chen, Y. P. 2013, PhD Thesis, University of Groningen Chen, Y. P. et al. 2014, A&A, 565A, 117; Coelho, P. et al. 2005, A&A, 443, 735; Davies, B. et al. 2013, ApJ, 767, 3; Gonneau, A. et al. 2013, in SF2A-2013, Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the French Society of Astronomy and Astrophysics, eds. Cambresy, L. et al., 233; Gregg, M. D. et al. 2006, in The 2005; HST Calibration Workshop: Hubble After the Transition to Two-GyroMode, eds. Koekemoer, A. M., Goudfrooij, P. & Dressel, L. L., 209; Koleva, M. et al. 2009, A&A, 501, 1269; Lenz, D. D. et al. 1998, ApJS, 119, 121; Prugniel, P. & Soubiran, C. 2001, A&A, 369, 1048; Prugniel, P. & Soubiran, C. 2004, arXiv: Astrophysics e-prints Prugniel, P. et al. 2007, arXiv: Astrophysics e-prints Rayner, J. T., Cushing, M. C. & Vacca, W. D. 2009, ApJS, 185, 289; Sánchez-Blázquez, P. et al. 2006, MNRAS, 371, 703; Spiniello, C. et al. 2011, MNRAS, 417, 3000; Trager, S. C. 2012, in International Workshop on Stellar Libraries, eds. Prugniel, P. & Singh, H. P., Astr. Soc. India Conf. Ser., 6, 1; Vazdekis, A. et al. 2012, MNRAS, 424, 157; Vernet, J. et al. 2011, A&A, 536, A105
35-38 (PDF)
F. Millour, E. Lagadec et al.
Catching Stellar Mergers at Work with the Very Large Telescope Interferometer

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...35M
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Millour, F.; Lagadec, E.; Marco, O. d.; Banerjee, D. P. K.; Mékarnia, D.; Spang, A.; Chesneau, O.
AA(Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Univ. Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Nice, France) AB(Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Univ. Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Nice, France) AC(Department of Physics & Astronomy, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia) AD(Astronomy & Astrophysics Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, India) AE(Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Univ. Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Nice, France) AF(Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Univ. Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Nice, France) AG(Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Univ. Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Nice, France)
Abstract:
The two Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) instruments AMBER and MIDI were used to study the close environment of two post-merger stellar systems: the R Coronae Borealis star V854 Cen and the red nova V838 Mon. The observations reveal the presence of flattened dusty structures in the core of both objects, which are very likely discs. This finding confirms that the merger of two stars can lead to the formation of a disc.
References:
Bond, H. E. et al. 2003, Nature, 422, 405; Bond, H. E. 2006, ATel, 966, 1; Chesneau, O. 2011, in Asymmetric Planetary Nebulae 5; Conference, arXiv: 1010:1081 Chesneau, O. et al. 2014a, A&A, 569, 4; Chesneau, O. et al. 2014b, A&A, 569, L3; Clayton, G. C. & Ayres, T. R. 2001, ApJ, 560, 986; Clayton, G. C. et al. 2011, ApJ, 743, 44; Clayton, G. C., Geballe, T. R. & Zhang, W. 2013, AJ, 146, 23; Crause, L. A., Lawson, W. A. & Henden, A. A. 2007, MNRAS, 375, 301; De Marco, O. et al. 2002, AJ, 123, 3387; De Marco, O. 2009, PASP, 121, 316; Frankowski, A. & Jorissen, A. 2007, Baltic Astron., 16, 104; Kameswara Rao, N. & Lambert, D. L. 1993, AJ, 105, 1915; Kaminski, T. & Tylenda, R. 2013, A&A, 558, A82; Lagage, P. O. et al. 2004, The Messenger, 117, 12; Lane, B. F. et al. 2005, ApJ, 622, L137; Leinert, C. et al. 2004, A&A, 423, 537; Loebman, S. R. et al. 2014, ApJ, submitted Lynch, D. K. et al. 2004, ApJ, 607, 460; Millour, F. et al. 2009, A&A, 507, 317; Petrov, R. G. et al. 2007, A&A, 464, 1; Rivinius, T., Carciofi, A. C. & Martayan, C. 2013, A&A Rev., 21, 69; Tylenda, R. & Soker, N. 2006, A&A, 451, 223; Wisniewski, J. P. et al. 2003b, ApJ, 588, 486; Wisniewski, J. P. et al. 2008, ApJ, 683, L171
39-44 (PDF)
M. Marconi, I. Musella et al.
STREGA: STRucture and Evolution of the GAlaxy with the VST

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...39M
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Marconi, M.; Musella, I.; Di Criscienzo, M.; Cignoni, M.; Dall’Ora, M.; Bono, G.; Ripepi, V.; Brocato, E.; Raimondo, G.; Grado, A.; Limatola, L.; Coppola, G.; Moretti, M. I.; Stetson, P. B.; Calamida, A.; Cantiello, M.; Capaccioli, M.; Cappellaro, E.; Cioni, M.-R. L.; Degl’Innocenti, S.; De Martino, D.; Di Cecco, A.; Ferraro, I.; Iannicola, G.; Moroni, P. G. P.; Silvotti, R.; Buonanno, R.; Getman, F.; Napolitano, N. R.; Pulone, L.; Schipani, P.
AA(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AB(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AC(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy; INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy) AD(Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA) AE(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AF(Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Roma-Tor Vergata, Italy) AG(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AH(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy) AI(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Teramo, Italy) AJ(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AK(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AL(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AM(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy; INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, Italy) AN(NRC-Herzberg, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria, Canada) AO(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy; Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, USA) AP(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Teramo, Italy) AQ(Università “Federico II”, Naples, Italy) AR(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Italy) AS(University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK; Leibnitz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam, Germany) AT(Università “E. Fermi”, Pisa, Italy) AU(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) AV(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy; Agenzia Spaziale Italiana Science Data Center (ASDC), Frascati, Italy) AW(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy) AX(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy) AY(Università “E. Fermi”, Pisa, Italy) AZ(INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Pino Torinese, Italy) BA(Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Roma-Tor Vergata, Italy; INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Teramo, Italy) BB(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) BC(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy) BD(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy) BE(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy)
Abstract:
STREGA (STRucture and Evolution of the Galaxy) is an ongoing VLT Survey Telescope Guaranteed Time survey, covering an area of about 150 square degrees, aimed at investigating the mechanisms of formation and evolution of the Galactic Halo. The project is organised into two parts: a core programme to search for the signatures of interaction between selected stellar systems and the Galactic Halo and a complementary part focussed on the southern portion of the Fornax Stream. The basis is the use of variable stars (RR Lyrae and long period variables) and main sequence turn-off stars as tracers of stellar overdensities. Observations in g,r,i bands, with additional filters, u, Strömgren v and Hα for selected fields, will allow investigation of the properties of Halo white dwarfs and interacting binaries. We present an overview of the survey and some first results, in particular for the region centred on Omega Centauri.
References:
Anderson, J. & van der Marel, R. P. 2010, ApJ, 710, 1032; Bertin, E. & Arnouts, S. 1996, A&AS, 117, 393; Bianchini, P. et al. 2013, ApJ, 772, 67; Capaccioli, M. & Schipani, P. 2011, The Messenger, 146, 2; Castellani, V. et al. 2002, MNRAS, 334, 69; Castellani, V. et al. 2007, ApJ, 663, 1021; Conn, A. R. et al. 2013, ApJ, 766, 120; Da Costa, G. S. & Coleman, M. G. 2008, AJ, 136, 506; Deg, N. & Widrow, L. 2013, MNRAS, 428, 912; Di Cecco, A. et al. 2013, AJ, 145, 103; Grado, A. et al. 2012, Mem. Soc. Astron. Ital. Suppl., 19, 362; Harris, W. E. 1996, AJ, 112, 148; Ibata, R. A. et al. 2013, Nature, 493, 62; King, I. R. 1966, AJ, 71, 64; Kuijken, K. 2011, The Messenger, 146, 8; Lynden-Bell, D. 1976, MNRAS, 174, 695; Majewski, S. R. et al. 2012, ApJ, 747, L37; Marconi, M. et al. 2014, MNRAS, in press, arXiv:1406.4375; McLaughlin, D. E. & van der Marel, R. P. 2005, ApJS, 161, 304; Pawlowski, M. S. & Kroupa, P. 2013, MNRAS, 435, 2116; Raimondo, G. et al. 2005, AJ, 130, 2625; Schlegel, D. J., Finkbeiner, D. P. & Davis, M. 1998, ApJ, 500, 525; Stetson, P. 1987, PASP, 99, 191; Wilson, C. P. 1975, AJ, 80, 175
45-47 (PDF)
A. Mucciarelli, M. Salaris et al.
The Abundance of Lithium Measured for the First Time Beyond Our Galaxy

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...45M
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Mucciarelli, A.; Salaris, M.; Bonifacio, P.; Monaco, L.; Villanova, S.
AA(Dipartimento di Fisica & Astronomia, Universitá degli Studi di Bologna, Italy) AB(Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom) AC(GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Univ. Paris Diderot, Meudon, France) AD(ESO) AE(Universidad de Concepcion, Casilla, Concepcion, Chile)
Abstract:
The discrepancy between the primordial lithium abundance derived from Population II dwarf stars and from the predictions of standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis is one of the most intriguing and challenging open questions in modern astrophysics. The use of lower red giant branch stars, instead of the usual method of observing dwarf stars, represents a new approach to attacking the problem. Lithium in distant, extragalactic stellar systems, for which observations of dwarf stars are precluded because of their faintness, becomes open for investigation. From observations with FLAMES at the VLT, we have been able to derive for the first time the initial lithium abundance in an extragalactic globular cluster, namely M54 in the Sagittarius galaxy.
References:
Coc, A., Uzan, J.-P. & Vangioni, E. 2013, arXiv1307.6955; Korn, A. J. et al. 2006, Nature, 442, 657; Iocco, F. et al. 2009, Phys. Rev., 472, 1; Monaco, L. et al. 2010, A&A, 519L, 3; Mucciarelli, A. et al. 2011, MNRAS, 412, 81; Mucciarelli, A., Salaris, M. & Bonifacio, P. 2012, MNRAS, 419, 2195; Mucciarelli, A. et al. 2014, MNRAS, 444, 1812; Piau, L. et al. 2006, ApJ, 653, 300; Planck Collaboration, 2013, arXiv1203.5076 Spergel, D. N. et al. 2007, ApJS, 170, 377; Spite, M. & Spite, F. 1982, Nature, 297, 483
48-53 (PDF)
P. Rosati, I. Balestra et al.
CLASH-VLT: A VIMOS Large Programme to Map the Dark Matter Mass Distribution in Galaxy Clusters and Probe Distant Lensed Galaxies

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...48R
Section:
Astronomical Science
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Rosati, P.; Balestra, I.; Grillo, C.; Mercurio, A.; Nonino, M.; Biviano, A.; Girardi, M.; Vanzella, E.; Clash-VLT Team
AA(Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Italy) AB(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AC(Dark Cosmology Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark) AD(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Napoli, Italy) AE(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AF(INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Italy) AG(Università degli Studi di Trieste, Italy) AH(INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, Italy)
Abstract:
The CLASH-VLT VIMOS Large Programme builds on the CLASH Hubble Space Telescope multi-cycle treasury programme to carry out a comprehensive spectroscopic campaign on 13 massive galaxy clusters in the southern sky, at a median redshift of 0.4. Observations are 95% complete and provide spectroscopic identification for 500 to 1000 members per cluster, and over 200 background lensed galaxies at z < 7. When combined with a homogeneous set of multi-wavelength ancillary observations, this project will allow a determination of cluster mass density profiles with dynamical and lensing methods and a characterisation of the inner structure of cluster dark matter halos with unprecedented accuracy. The final spectroscopic CLASH-VLT dataset will contain ~ 30 000 spectra and redshifts, of which ~ 7000 are cluster members, providing a long-lasting legacy for studies of galaxy evolution in different environments.
References:
Annunziatella, M. et al. 2014, A&A, 571, 80; Balestra, I. et al. 2013, A&A, 559, 9; Biviano, A. et al. 2013, A&A, 558, 1; Bouwens, R. et al. 2014, ApJ, 795, 126; Coe, D. et al. 2013, ApJ, 762, 32; Diaferio, A. & Geller, M. J. 1997, ApJ, 481, 633; Grillo, C. et al. 2014, ApJ, submitted, arXiv:1407.7866; Jouvel, S. et al. 2014, A&A, 562, 86; Kuchner, U. et al. 2014, Procs. of IAU Symp. 309, Vienna, arXiv:1409.4999; Merten, J. et al. 2014, ApJ, in press, arXiv:1404.1376; Monna, A. 2014, MNRAS, 438, 1417; Postman, M. et al. 2012, ApJS, 199, 25; Presotto, V. et al. 2014, A&A, 565, 126; Sartoris, B. et al. 2014, ApJ, 783, 11; Umetsu, K. et al. 2012, ApJ, 755, 56; Zitrin, A. et al. 2012, ApJ, 749, 97

Astronomical News

55-58 (PDF)
G. Bono, E. Valenti
Report on the Workshop ''Resolved and Unresolved Stellar PopUlaTIoNs (RASPUTIN)''

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...55B
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Bono, G.; Valenti, E.
AA(Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Roma-Tor Vergata, Italy) AB(ESO)
Abstract:
The workshop aimed at sharing and discussing observations and diagnostics, together with models and simulations, of the resolved and unresolved stellar populations in galaxies from the Milky Way to the distant Universe. Special attention was paid to recent results concerning galaxy formation and evolution, fostering the exchange of ideas and techniques in dealing with nearby stellar populations. There will be no published proceedings, but presentations are available for download from the workshop web page (www.eso.org/sci/meetings/2014/rasputin2014).
References:
Gazak, J. Z. et al. 2014a, ApJ, 787, 142; Gazak, J. Z. et al. 2014b, ApJ, 788, 58; Kamann, S., Wisotzki, L. & Roth, M. M. 2013, A&A, 549, A71
59-59 (PDF)
C. Madsen
Jorge Melnick Retires from ESO

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...59M
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Madsen, C.
AA(ESO)
60-60 (PDF)
M. Galametz, A. Müller
Fellows at ESO

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...60.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Galametz, M.; Müller, A.
AA(ESO) AB(ESO)
61-62 (PDF)
K. Maguire
External Fellows at ESO

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158...61.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
Maguire, K.
AA(ESO)
63-63 (PDF)
ESO
Personnel Movements

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158Q..63.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)
63-63 (PDF)
ESO
Confirmation of The Messenger Subscription

ADS BibCode:
2014Msngr.158R..63.
Section:
Astronomical News
Author(s)/Affiliation(s):
ESO
AA(ESO)