Related papers: S62 on a 9.9 yr Orbit around SgrA*
We study the dynamical evolution of the putative gas clouds G1 and G2 recently discovered in the Galactic center. Following earlier studies suggesting that these two clouds are part of a larger gas streamer, we combine their orbits into a…
We obtained high-resolution spectra and multicolor photometry of V1082 Sgr to study the donor star in this 20.8 hr orbital period binary, which is assumed to be a detached system. We measured the rotational velocity (v sin i = 26.5+/-2.0…
A powerful outburst of X-ray radiation from the supermassive black hole Sgr A* at the center of the Milky Way is believed to be responsible for the illumination of molecular clouds in the central ~100 pc of the Galaxy (Sunyaev et al., 1993,…
The stars orbiting the compact radio source Sgr A* in the Galactic Centre are precision probes of the gravitational field around the closest massive black hole. In addition to adaptive optics assisted astrometry (with NACO / VLT) and…
We identify a new secular instability of eccentric stellar disks around supermassive black holes. We show that retrograde precession of the stellar orbits, due to the presence of a stellar cusp, induces coherent torques that amplify…
We report the detection of a planet whose orbit surrounds a pair of low-mass stars. Data from the Kepler spacecraft reveal transits of the planet across both stars, in addition to the mutual eclipses of the stars, giving precise constraints…
The supermassive black hole at the Galactic center, Sagittarius A*, has experienced periods of higher activity in the past. The reflection of these past outbursts is observed in the molecular material surrounding the black hole but…
The center of our Galaxy is known to host a massive compact object, Sgr A$^*$, which is commonly considered as a super-massive black hole of $\sim 4\times 10^6$ M$_\odot$. It is surrounded by a dense and massive nuclear star cluster, with a…
Multi-color light curves and radial velocities for TYC\,1031\,1262\,1 have been obtained and analyzed. TYC\,1031\,1262\,1 includes a Cepheid with a period of 4.15270$\pm$0.00061 days. The orbital period of the system is about…
We report preliminary results based on new near-infrared observations of the central stellar cluster of our Galaxy conducted with the infrared spectrometer ISAAC at the ESO VLT UT1 and the MPE speckle camera SHARP at the ESO NTT. We…
We present extensive spectroscopy and photometry of the dwarf nova V630 Cassiopeiae. A late-type (K4-5) absorption spectrum is easily detectable, from which we derive the orbital parameters. We find a spectroscopic period of P=2.56387 +/-…
We show that at any given time, the Galactocentric black hole Sgr A* is expected to be microlensing N(lens)=1.7 bulge stars if the threshold of detectability of the fainter image is K(thr)=21, and about N(lens)=8 sources if K(thr)=23. The…
From the group of galaxies HCG62, we detected an excess hard X-ray emission in energies above $\sim 4$ keV with \A SCA. The excess emission is spatially extended up to $\sim10'$ from the group center, and somewhat enhanced toward north. Its…
The recently discovered subdwarf B (sdB) pulsator KIC11558725 features a rich g-mode frequency spectrum, with a few low-amplitude p-modes at short periods, and is a promising target for a seismic study aiming to constrain the internal…
We report the first disclosure of the planetary nature of Kepler-432 b (aka Kepler object of interest KOI-1299.01). We accurately constrained its mass and eccentricity by high-precision radial velocity measurements obtained with the CAFE…
Using high-resolution, multiple-passband Hubble Space Telescope images spanning the entire optical/near-infrared wavelength range, we obtained a statistically complete sample, $U$-band selected sample of 846 extended star clusters across…
The near-infrared emission from the black hole at the Galactic center (Sgr A*) has unique properties. The most striking feature is a suggestive periodic sub-structure that has been observed in a couple of flares so far. Using near-infrared…
The Galactic Center is the closest galactic nucleus that can be studied with unprecedented angular resolution and sensitivity. We summarize recent basic observational results on Sagittarius A* and the conditions for star formation in the…
Li {\it et al.\/} (2024) reported a 4.605 day period in the repeating FRB 20121102A in addition to the previously reported 157 day modulation of its activity. This note suggests that the shorter period is the orbital period of a…
Recent measurements of stellar orbits provide compelling evidence that the compact radio source Sagittarius A* at the Galactic Centre is a 3.6-million-solar-mass black hole. Sgr A* is remarkably faint in all wavebands other than the radio…