Related papers: An Improved Dynamical Model for the Microquasar XT…

We report the detection of an orbital period decay of $\dot P=-1.83\pm0.66$ ms yr$^{-1}$ in the black hole X-ray binary XTE J1118+480. This corresponds to a period change of $-0.85\pm0.30$ $\mu $s per orbital cycle, which is $\sim 150$…

We present the first orbital elements for the massive close binary, HD 115071, a double-lined spectroscopic binary in a circular orbit with a period of 2.73135 +/- 0.00003 days. The orbital semiamplitudes indicate a mass ratio of M_2/M_1 =…

We report new precision measurements of the properties of our Galaxy's supermassive black hole. Based on astrometric (1995-2007) and radial velocity (2000-2007) measurements from the W. M. Keck 10-meter telescopes, a fully unconstrained…

In this Paper we report on optical spectroscopic observations of the low-mass X-ray binary 2S 0921-630 obtained with the Very Large Telescope. We found sinusoidal radial velocity variations of the companion star with a semi-amplitude of…

Spectroscopic observations of the quasar J0950$+$5128 spanning 22 years reveal monotonic radial velocity variations in its broad H$\beta$ emission line. Moreover, the line profile becomes broader over time, necessitating careful…

XTE J1650-500 is a Galactic black-hole binary system for which at least one high-frequency QPO at 250Hz was reported. Moreover there are indications that the system harbours a near-extreme Kerr black-hole with the spin near 0.998 and mass…

Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) All-Sky Monitor (ASM) observations of the X-ray binary 2S0114+650 show modulations at periods close to both the optically derived orbital period (11.591 days) and proposed pulse period (~ 2.7 hr). The…

High-dispersion spectroscopy of EY Cyg obtained from data spanning twelve years show, for the first time, the radial velocity curves from both emission and absorption line systems, yielding semi-amplitudes K_{em}=24+/- 4 km s^-1 and…

We analyzed the microlensing of the X-ray and optical emission of the lensed quasar PG 1115+080. We find that the effective radius of the X-ray emission is 1.3(+1.1 -0.5) dex smaller than that of the optical emission. Viewed as a thin disk…

We present high-speed, three-colour photometry of the eclipsing cataclysmic variable SDSS J170213.26+322954.1 (hereafter SDSS J1702+3229). This system has an orbital period of 2.4 hours, placing it within the ``period gap'' for cataclysmic…

Aims: We investigate the physical nature of the X-ray emitting source 1RXS J165443.5-191620 through optical photometry and time-resolved spectroscopy. Methods: Optical photometry is obtained from a variety of telescopes all over the world…

We present a new dynamical study of the black hole X-ray transient GRS1915+105 making use of near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with X-shooter at the VLT. We detect a large number of donor star absorption features across a wide range of…

MAXI J1305-704 has been proposed as a high-inclination candidate black hole X-ray binary in view of its X-ray properties and dipping behaviour during outburst. We present photometric and spectroscopic observations of the source in…

We have discovered at x-ray and radio wavelengths large-scale moving jets from the microquasar XTE J1550-654. Plasma ejected from near the black hole traveled at relativistic velocities for at least four years. We present direct evidence…

PSR J1518+4904 is a recently discovered 40.9~ms pulsar in an 8.6 day, moderately eccentric orbit. We have measured pulse arrival times for this pulsar over 1.4~yr at several radio frequencies, from which we have derived high precision…

We present intermediate resolution spectroscopy of the optical counterpart to the black hole X-ray transient MAXI J1820+070 (=ASASSN-18ey) obtained with the OSIRIS spectrograph on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias. The observations were…

We present an analysis of the high frequency timing properties of the April-May 2000 outburst of the black hole candidate and Galactic microquasar XTE J1550-564, measured with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. The rapid X-ray variability we…

IGR J16493-4348 is an eclipsing supergiant high-mass X-ray binary (sgHMXB), where accretion onto the compact object occurs via the radially outflowing stellar wind of its early B-type companion. We present an analysis of the system's X-ray…

We present a spectroscopic and photometric study of the Double Period Variable HD170582. Based on the study of the ASAS V-band light curve we determine an improved orbital period of 16.87177 $\pm$ 0.02084 days and a long period of 587 days.…

The X-ray transient Swift J1727.8-1613 ended its 10-month discovery outburst on June of 2024, when it reached an optical brightness comparable to pre-discovery magnitudes. With the aim of performing a dynamical study, we launched an optical…