Related papers: The Classification of M1-78
Planetary nebulae (PNe) and their central stars (CSs) are ideal tools to test evolutionary theory: photospheric properties of their exciting stars give stringent constraints for theoretical predictions of stellar evolution. The nebular…
We explore the implications of type Ia supernovae (SNIa) observations on flat cosmological models whose matter content is an exotic fluid with equation of state, p=-M^(4(a+1))/rho^a. In this scenario, a single fluid component may drive the…
Eight planetary nebulae have been identified as `born-again', a class of object typified by knotty secondary ejecta having low masses ($\sim$$10^{-4}$ M$_{\odot}$) with nearly no hydrogen. Abell 30, the archetype of the class, also belongs…
We present medium-resolution optical spectroscopy with the SOAR telescope of the O star secondary of the high-mass gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856 to help determine whether the primary is a neutron star or black hole. We find that the…
With a star formation rate of order 0.4 M$_\odot $ yr$^{-1}$, M31 should have significant population of supernova remnants (SNRs), and, in fact, 156 SNR and SNR candidates have been suggested by Lee et al. (2014) by searching for nebulae…
We present the first results of a study of the expected properties of the first stellar generations in the Universe. In particular, we consider and discuss a series of properties that, on the basis of the emission from associated HII…
The observed diversity in Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) -- the thermonuclear explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarf stars used as cosmological standard candles -- is currently met with a variety of explosion models and progenitor scenarios.…
A proper determination of the abundance gradient in the Milky Way requires the observation of objects at large galactiocentric distances. With this aim, we are exploring the planetary nebula population towards the Galactic Anticentre. In…
We have conducted a detailed multi-wavelength study of the peculiar nebula Abell 48 and its central star. We classify the nucleus as a helium-rich, hydrogen-deficient star of type [WN4-5]. The evidence for either a massive WN or a low-mass…
We have obtained near-infrared imaging and an optical spectrum of the proto-planetary nebula IRAS~07131-0147, a highly polarized bipolar reflection nebula believed to be in evolutionary transition from the asymptotic giant branch to the…
Type Ia supernovae are understood to arise from the thermonuclear explosion of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf, yet the evolutionary mechanisms leading to such events remain unknown. Many proposed channels, including the classical…
Low dispersion spectra have been obtained of five planetary nebulae in the elliptical galaxy NGC 5128 (Centaurus-A) from the catalogue of Hui et al. (1993). The planetary nebulae (PN) cover a range of galactocentric radius from 7.9 to 17.7…
We present new results from our spectral analyses of very hot central stars achieved since the last IAU Symposium on planetary nebulae held in Canberra 2001. The analyses are mainly based on UV and far-UV spectroscopy performed with the…
Theoretically, bound binaries of massive black holes are expected as the natural outcome of mergers of massive galaxies. From the observational side, however, massive black hole binaries remain elusive. Velocity shifts between narrow and…
We derive the molecular properties for a sample of 301 Galactic HII regions including 123 ultra compact (UC), 105 compact, and 73 diffuse nebulae. We analyze all sources within the BU-FCRAO Galactic Ring Survey (GRS) of 13CO emission known…
Identifying progenitor systems for the double-degenerate scenario is crucial to check the reliability of type Ia super-novae as cosmological standard candles. Santander-Garcia et al. (2015) claimed that Hen 2-428 has a double-degenerate…
Spectroscopic analyses with the intention of the interpretation of the UV-spectra of the brightest stars as individuals - supernovae - or as components of star-forming regions - massive O stars - provide a powerful tool with great…
Common envelope events have been associated with the formation of a planetary nebulae since its proposition more than forty five years ago. However, until recently there have been doubts as to whether a common envelope while the donor is…
Central Compact Objects (CCOs), neutron stars found near the centre of some Supernova Remnants (SNRs), have been almost exclusively studied in X-rays and are thought to lack the wind nebulae typically seen around young, rotation-powered…
The first observations of the infrared spectrum of the LMC planetary nebula SMP83 as observed by the recently launched Spitzer Space Telescope are presented. The high resolution R~600 spectrum shows strong emission lines but no significant…