Related papers: Spectral variability of planetary nebulae and rela…
A photoelectric monitoring program has been applied, during the last four years, to five central stars of planetary nebulae (PNNs) with strong O\,VI $\lambda$ 3811--34 \AA \hspace{0.1mm} emission. NGC\,6905 and, marginally, NGC\,2452, show…
We have monitored over a ten-year interval the light variations of five evolved stars with very large mid-infrared excesses. All five objects appear to have oxygen-rich or mixed oxygen-rich and carbon-rich chemistries. They all vary in…
As the second step in our investigation of the mass-to-light ratio of spiral disks, we present the results of a spectroscopic survey of planetary nebulae (PNe) in five nearby, low-inclination galaxies: IC 342, M74 (NGC 628), M83 (NGC 5236),…
The properties of bright extragalactic planetary nebulae are reviewed based upon the results of low and high resolution spectroscopy. It is argued that bright extragalactic planetary nebulae from galaxies (or subsystems) with and without…
In this review we present a brief discussion on the observational evidence in favor of the presence of temperature variations, and conclude that many planetary nebulae show spatial temperature variations that are larger than those predicted…
Recent observations by XMM-Newton detected rotational pulsations in the total brightness and spectrum of several neutron stars. To properly interpret the data, accurate modeling of neutron star emission is necessary. Detailed analysis of…
We report the results of a sensitive survey of young planetary nebulae in the CO J=2-1 line that significantly increases the available data on warm, dense, molecular gas in the early phases of planetary nebula formation. The observations…
Here we present two of our interesting results obtained over the last 18 months from spectroscopic monitoring of binary pulsating stars and exoplanet host stars. Our investigations are very promising by demonstrating that modern fiber-fed…
The question of what physical mechanisms shape planetary nebulae into their observed morphologies remains open. However, intensified efforts since the last meeting in this series, Asymmetrical Planetary Nebulae IV, in July 2007 have yielded…
We present results of an ongoing survey of low surface brightness planetary nebulae (PNe). Using both narrow-band imaging and long slit spectroscopy we have studied 15 new examples for interaction with the interstellar medium (ISM)…
The correct interpretation of the large amount of complex data from next-generation (in particular, space-based) observational facilities requires a very strong theoretical underpinning. One can thus predict that in the near future the use…
Spectral evolution models are a widely used tool for determining the stellar content of galaxies. I provide a review of the latest developments in stellar atmosphere and evolution models, with an emphasis on massive stars. In contrast to…
A revival over the past two decades in planetary nebula (PN) morphological studies springs from a combination of factors, including the advent of wide-area, high dynamic range detectors; the growing archives of high resolution images from…
We have observed planetary nebulae (PNe) in several early-type galaxies using new techniques on 4- to 8-meter-class telescopes. We obtain the first large data sets (~ 100 velocities each) of PN kinematics in galaxies at > 15 Mpc, and…
Since various structural components of planetary nebulae manifest themselves differently, a combination of optical, infrared, submm, and radio techniques is needed to derive a complete picture of planetary nebulae. The effects of projection…
Since the first detection of intracluster planetary nebulae in 1996, imaging and spectroscopic surveys identified such stars to trace the radial extent and the kinematics of diffuse light in clusters. This topic of research is tightly…
The measurement of chemical abundances in planetary nebulae in nearby galaxies is now relatively straightforward. The challenge is to use these chemical abundances to infer the chemical evolution of their host galaxies. At this point, our…
We have recently confirmed the planetary nebula (PN)nature of PM1-242, PM1-318 and PM1-322. Here we present high-resolution long-slit spectra of these three PNe in order to analyze their internal kinematics and to investigate their physical…
The study of the hard (E>10 keV) energy spectra of X-ray binary pulsars can give a wealth of information on the physical processes that occur close to the neutron star surface. Extreme matter regimes are probed, and precious information on…
In this PhD Thesis we study the occurrence of powerful stellar outbursts in the late phases of evolution of stars like the Sun. This is one of the most controversial topics in the field, as the extraordinary variety of shapes revealed by…