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For the B-type supergiant κ Cassiopeiae (HD 2905), variabilities with periods between several hours and a few days have been observed both photometrically and spectroscopically. A recent study of this star by Simón-Díaz et al. has revealed variability with a dominant period of 2.7 d. To understand this variability, we present a linear non-adiabatic stability analysis with respect to radial perturbations for models of κ Cassiopeiae. Instabilities associated with the fundamental mode and the first overtone are identified for models with masses between 27 and 44 M⊙. For selected models, the instabilities are followed into the nonlinear regime by numerical simulations. As a result, finite amplitude pulsations with periods between 3 and 1.8 d are found. The model with a mass of 34.5 M⊙ exhibits a pulsation period of 2.7 d consistent with the observations. In the nonlinear regime, the instabilities may cause a substantial inflation of the envelope.

We present a comprehensive photometric analysis of a young open cluster NGC 1960 (M36) along with the long-term variability study of this cluster. Based on the kinematic data of Gaia DR2, the membership probabilities of 3871 stars are ascertained in the cluster field among which 262 stars are found to be cluster members. Considering the kinematic and trigonometric measurements of the cluster members, we estimate a mean cluster parallax of 0.86+/-0.05 mas and mean proper motions of mu_RA = -0.143+/-0.008 mas/yr, mu_Dec = -3.395+/-0.008 mas/yr. We obtain basic parameters of the cluster such as E(B-V) = 0.24+/-0.02 mag, log(Age/yr)=7.44+/-0.02, and distance = 1.17+/-0.06 kpc. The mass function slope in the cluster for the stars in the mass range of 0.72-7.32 M_solar is found to be ��= -1.26+/-0.19. We find that mass segregation is still taking place in the cluster which is yet to be dynamically relaxed. This work also presents first high-precision variability survey in the central 13'x13' among which 72 are periodic variables. Among them, 59 are short-period (P1 day). The variable stars have V magnitudes ranging between 9.1 to 19.4 mag and periods between 41 minutes to 10.74 days. On the basis of their locations in the H-R diagram, periods and characteristic light curves, the 20 periodic variables belong to the cluster. We classified them as 2 delta-Scuti, 3 gamma-Dor, 2 slowly pulsating B stars, 5 rotational variables, 2 non-pulsating B stars and 6 as miscellaneous variables., Accepted for publication on December 20, 2019 in MNRAS. 20 pages, 15 figures, 12 tables

The nominal Kepler mission provided very high-precision photometric data. Using these data, interesting phenomena such as spots, and ``hump and spike'' features were observed in the light curves of some normal A and metallic lined A stars (Am stars). However, the connection between such phenomena and the chemical peculiarity of the Am stars is still unclear. In order to make progress on these issues, its important to collect high-resolution spectroscopic data to determine their fundamental parameters and individual chemical abundances. In this paper, we present a spectroscopic study of a sample of ``hump and spike'' stars in the nominal Kepler field. We used data collected with the High Efficiency and Resolution Mercator \'{E}chelle Spectrograph (HERMES). We determined the spectral type of these stars and obtained the atmospheric stellar parameters such as effective temperatures, surface gravities, projected rotational, microturbulent and radial velocities. We also performed a detailed individual chemical abundance analysis for each target. We confirmed KIC 3459226 and KIC 6266219 as Am stars, KIC 9349245 as a marginal Am star, while KIC 4567097, KIC 4818496, KIC 5524045, KIC 5650229, KIC 7667560, and KIC 9272082 are non-Am stars. To estimate their evolutionary phases, all the stars were placed in the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram. Based on their spectral classification and chemical abundance pattern, we reclassified KIC 6266219 (previously treated as chemically normal) as an Am star (kA3hA7mF1) and KIC 9272082 (previously treated as Am) as non-Am., Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present here optical I-band photometric variability study down to $\simeq$ 19 mag of a young ($\sim$2-3 Myr) star-forming region IC 348 in the Perseus molecular cloud. We aim to explore the fast rotation (in the time-scales of hours) in Very Low Mass stars (VLMs) including Brown Dwarfs (BDs). From a sample of 177 light-curves using our new I-band observations, we detect new photometric variability in 22 young M-dwarfs including 6 BDs, which are bonafide members in IC 348 and well-characterized in the spectral type of M-dwarfs. Out of 22 variables, 11 M dwarfs including one BD show hour-scale periodic variability in the period range 3.5 - 11 hours and rest are aperiodic in nature. Interestingly, an optical flare is detected in a young M2.75 dwarf in one night data on 20 December 2016. From the flare light curve, we estimate the emitted flared energy of 1.48 $\times$ 10$^{35}$ ergs. The observed flared energy with an uncertainty of tens of per cent is close to the super-flare range ($\sim$ 10$^{34}$ ergs), which is rarely observed in active M dwarfs., 12 pages, 5 figures

We present the results of flux density, spectral index, and polarization intra-night monitoring studies of a sample of eight optically bright blazars, carried out by employing several small to moderate aperture (0.4\,m to 1.5\,m diameter) telescopes fitted with CCDs and polarimeters located in Europe, India, and Japan. The duty cycle of flux variability for the targets is found to be $\sim 45$ percent, similar to that reported in earlier studies. The computed two-point spectral indices are found to be between 0.65 to 1.87 for our sample, comprised of low- and intermediate frequency peaked blazars, with one exception; they are also found to be statistically variable for about half the instances where `confirmed' variability is detected in flux density. In the analysis of the spectral evolution of the targets on hourly timescale, a counter-clockwise loop (soft-lagging) is noted in the flux-spectral index plane on two occasions, and in one case a clear spectral flattening with the decreasing flux is observed. In our data set, we also observe a variety of flux-polarization degree variability patterns, including instances with a relatively straightforward anti-correlation, correlation, or counter-clockwise looping. These changes are typically reflected in the flux-polarization angle plane: the anti-correlation between the flux and polarization degree is accompanied by an anti-correlation between the polarization angle and flux, while the counter-clockwise flux-PD looping behaviour is accompanied by a clockwise looping in the flux-polarization angle representation. We discuss our findings in the framework of the internal shock scenario for blazar sources., MNRAS accepted

We report here CCD $I$-band time-series photometry of a young (2$-$5 Myr) cluster NGC 2282 to identify and understand the variability of pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars. The $I$-band photometry, down to $\sim$ 20.5 mag, enables us to probe the variability towards the lower mass end ($\sim$ 0.1 M$_\odot$) of the PMS stars. From the light curves of 1627 stars, we identified 62 new photometric variable candidates. Their association with the region was established from H$\alpha$ emission and infrared (IR) excess. Among 62 variables, 30 young variables exhibit H$\alpha$ emission, near-IR (NIR)/mid-IR (MIR) excess or both, and they are candidate members of the cluster. Out of 62 variables, 41 are periodic variables with the rotation rate ranging from 0.2 to 7 days. The period distribution exhibits a median period at $\sim$ 1-day as in many young clusters (e.g., NGC~2264, ONC, etc.), but it follows a uni-modal distribution unlike others having bimodality with the slow rotators peaking at $\sim$ 6$-$8 days. To investigate the rotation-disk and variability-disk connection, we derived NIR excess from $\Delta$(I$-$K) and MIR excess from $Spitzer$ [3.6]$-$[4.5] $\mu$m data. No conclusive evidence of slow rotation with the presence of disks around stars and fast rotation for diskless stars is obtained from our periodic variables. A clear increasing trend of the variability amplitude with the IR excess is found for all variables.

We present optical $I$-band light curves of the stars towards a star-forming region Cygnus OB7 from 17 nights photometric observations. The light curves are generated from a total of 381 image frames with very good photometric precision. From the light curves of 1900 stars and their periodogram analyses, we detect 31 candidate variables including five previously identified. 14 out of 31 objects are periodic and exhibit the rotation rates in the range of 0.15 to 11.60 days. We characterize those candidate variables using optical/infrared colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams. From spectral indices of the candidate variables, it turns out that four are probably Classical T-Tauri stars (CTTSs), rest remain unclassified from present data, they are possibly field stars or diskless pre-main sequence stars towards the region. Based on their location on the various colour-magnitude diagrams, the ages of two T Tauri Stars were estimated to be $\sim$ 5 Myr. The light curves indicate at least five of the periodic variables are eclipsing systems. The spatial distribution of young variable candidates on Planck 857 GHz (350 $\mu$m) and 2MASS $K_s$ images suggest that at least two of the CTTSs are part of the active star-forming cloud Lynds 1003., Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures

We present the results of time-series photometric analysis of 15106 A-K type stars observed by the Kepler space mission. We identified 513 new rotational variables and measured their starspot rotation periods as a function of spectral type and discuss the distribution of their amplitudes. We examined the well-established period-colour relationship that applies to stars of spectral types F5-K for all of these rotational variables and, interestingly, found that a similar period-colour relationship appears to extend to stars of spectral types A7 to early-F too. This result is not consistent with the very foundation of the period-colour relationship. We have characterized 350 new non-radial pulsating variables such as A- and F-type candidate $\delta$ Scuti, $\gamma$ Doradus and hybrid stars, which increases the known candidate non-radial pulsators in the Kepler field significantly, by $\sim$20\%. The relationship between two recently constructed observables, $Energy$ and $Efficiency$, was also studied for the large sample of non-radial pulsators, which shows that the distribution in the logarithm of $Energy$ ($\log(En)$) can be used as a potential tool to distinguish between the non-radial pulsators, to some extent. Through visual inspection of the light curves and their corresponding frequency spectra, we found 23 new candidate red giant solar-like oscillators not previously reported in the literature. The basic physical parameters such as masses, radii and luminosities of these solar-like oscillators were also derived using asteroseismic relations., Comment: 20 pages, 9 Figures, 4 online tables, Published in Astrophysics and Space Science (https://rdcu.be/bcqa4)

The hot $\gamma$~Doradus stars have multiple low frequencies characteristic of $\gamma$~Dor or SPB variables, but are located between the red edge of the SPB and the blue edge of the $\gamma$~Dor instability strips where all low-frequency modes are stable in current models of these stars. Though $\delta$~Sct stars also have low frequencies, there is no sign of high frequencies in hot $\gamma$~Dor stars. We obtained spectra to refine the locations of some of these stars in the H-R diagram and conclude that these are, indeed, anomalous pulsating stars. The Maia variables have multiple high frequencies characteristic of $\beta$~Cep and $\delta$~Sct stars, but lie between the red edge of the $\beta$~Cep and the blue edge of the $\delta$~Sct instability strips. We compile a list of all Maia candidates and obtain spectra of two of these stars. Again, it seems likely that these are anomalous pulsating stars which are currently not understood.

The combination of photometry, spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry of the chemically peculiar stars often aims to study the complex physical phenomena such as stellar pulsation, chemical inhomogeneity, magnetic field and their interplay with stellar atmosphere and circumstellar environment. The prime objective of the present study is to determine the atmospheric parameters of a set of Am stars to understand their evolutionary status. Atmospheric abundances and basic parameters are determined using full spectrum fitting technique by comparing the high-resolution spectra to the synthetic spectra. To know the evolutionary status we derive the effective temperature and luminosity from different methods and compare them with the literature. The location of these stars in the H-R diagram demonstrate that all the sample stars are evolved from the Zero-Age-Main-Sequence towards Terminal-Age-Main-Sequence and occupy the region of $\delta$ Sct instability strip. The abundance analysis shows that the light elements e.g. Ca and Sc are underabundant while iron peak elements such as Ba, Ce etc. are overabundant and these chemical properties are typical for Am stars. The results obtained from the spectropolarimetric analysis shows that the longitudinal magnetic fields in all the studied stars are negligible that gives further support their Am class of peculiarity., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present the results of our power spectral analysis for the BL Lac object PKS 0735+178 utilizing the Fermi-LAT survey at high-energy $\gamma$-rays, several ground-based optical telescopes, and single-dish radio telescopes operating at GHz frequencies. The novelty of our approach is that, by combining long-term and densely sampled intra-night light curves in the optical regime, we were able to construct for the first time the optical power spectrum of the blazar for a time domain extending from 23 years down to minutes. Our analysis reveals that: (i) the optical variability is consistent with a pure red noise, for which the power spectral density can well be approximated by a single power-law throughout the entire time domain probed; (ii) the slope of power spectral density at high-energy $\gamma$-rays ($\sim 1$), is significantly flatter than that found at radio and optical frequencies ($\sim 2$) within the corresponding time variability range; (iii) for the derived power spectra we did not detect any low-frequency flattening, nor do we see any evidence for cut-offs at the highest frequencies down to the noise floor levels due to measurement uncertainties. We interpret our findings in terms of a model where the blazar variability is generated by the underlying single stochastic process (at radio and optical frequencies), or a linear superposition of such processes (in the $\gamma$-ray regime). Along with the detailed PSD analysis, we also present the results of our extended (1998-2015) intra-night optical monitoring program and newly acquired optical photo-polarimetric data for the source., Comment: The Astrophysical Journal, in press

We present an analysis of stars in the field of the open cluster NGC 6866 (age 650 Myr) using data from the Kepler Input Catalogue (KIC) and time series photometry from the Kepler data base. We identify 31 δ Scuti and 8 γ Doradus pulsating variables as well as 23 red giants with solar-like oscillations. There are 4 eclipsing binaries and 106 stars showing rotational modulation indicative of starspots. We attempted to identify cluster members using their proper motions but found very poor discrimination between members and non-members. The KIC shows a concentration of stars with distance modulus V0 − MV = 10.47 ± 0.02. We used assumed radial modes in 9 δ Sct stars to determine their asteroseismic luminosities and found that the distance modulus falls within three narrow ranges depending on the assignment of overtone number. One of these ranges coincides with the KIC distance modulus. The rotation periods of main-sequence stars are correlated with colour, so that a period–age–mass relation can be derived from open clusters and applied to stars of unknown ages. Surprisingly, we find that the correlation applies not only to cool stars, but extends to A-type stars in the cluster. Finally, we present measurements of solar-like oscillations in red giants, a few of which might be cluster members.

Based on an almost complete sample of Galactic open star clusters within 1.8 kpc, we perform a comprehensive statistical analysis of various cluster parameters like spatial position, age, size, mass and extinction in order to understand the general properties of the open cluster system in the Galaxy and the Galactic structure. Based on the distribution of 1241 open clusters about the Galactic plane and in different age bins, we find the average Galactic scale height as Zh = 60+/-2 pc for the youngest cluster population having Age, 13 pages, 13 figures, 2016, A&A, 593, 116

In this paper we present a high-resolution spectroscopic analysis of the chemically peculiar star HD207561. During a survey programme to search for new roAp stars in the Northern hemisphere, Joshi et al. (2006) observed significant photometric variability on two consecutive nights in the year 2000. The amplitude spectra of the light curves obtained on these two nights showed oscillations with a frequency of 2.79 mHz [P~6-min]. However, subsequent follow-up observations could not confirm any rapid variability. In order to determine the spectroscopic nature of HD207561, high-resolution spectroscopic and spectro-polarimetric observations were carried out. A reasonable fit of the calculated Hbeta line profile to the observed one yields the effective temperature (Teff) and surface gravity (log g) as 7300 K and 3.7 dex, respectively. The derived projected rotational velocity (vsin i) for HD207561 is 74 km/sec indicative of a relatively fast rotator. The position of HD207561 in the H-R diagram implies that this is slightly evolved from the main-sequence and located well within the delta-Scuti instability strip. The abundance analysis indicates the star has slight under-abundances of Ca and Sc and mild over-abundances of iron-peak elements. The spectro-polarimetric study of HD207561 shows that the effective magnetic field is within the observational error of 100 gauss (G). The spectroscopic analysis revealed that the star has most of the characteristics similar to an Am star, rather than an Ap star, and that it lies in the delta-Scuti instability strip; hence roAp pulsations are not expected in HD207561, but low-overtone modes might be excited.

We present results of a variability search in the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 6866 from 29 nights over two observing seasons. We find 28 periodic variables, of which 19 are newly identified. The periods of these variables, which have V magnitudes from 11.5 to 19.3 mag, range from ~ 48 min to 37 d. We detected several delta-Scuti stars, some of which are of high amplitude, as well as gamma-Doradus, rotational variables and eclipsing binaries. In order to study the physical properties of the cluster, we obtained UBVRI photometry of all the stars on a good photometric night. The radial distribution of the stellar surface density shows that the cluster has a radial extent of about 7 arcmin (~3 pc) with a peak density of 5.7+/-0.7 stars/arcmin^2 at the cluster center. The colour-colour diagram indicates a reddening of E(B-V) = 0.10 mag towards NGC 6866. A distance of ~ 1.47 kpc and an age of ~ 630 Myr is estimated from the colour-magnitude diagram using the theoretical isochrones of solar metallicity.

We present the results on the photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of a luminous Ap star HD103498. The time-series photometric observations were carried out on 17 nights using three-channel fast photometer attached to the 1.04-m optical telescope at ARIES, Nainital. The photometric data of five nights of year 2007 show clear signature of 15-min periodicity. However, the follow-up observations during 2007--2009 could not repeated any such periodicity. To confirm the photometric light variations, the time-series spectroscopic observations were carried out with the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) at La Palma on February 2, 2009. Any radial velocity variations were absent in this data set which is in full agreement with the photometric observations taken near the same night. Model atmosphere and abundance analysis of HD103498 show that the star is evolved from the Main Sequence and its atmospheric abundances are similar to two other evolved Ap stars HD133792 and HD204411: large overabundances of Si, Cr, and Fe and moderate overabundances of the rare-earth elements. These chemical properties and a higher effective temperature distinguish HD103498 from any known roAp star., Comment: 8 Figures, 2 Tables, 9 Pages, Accepted for publication in MNRAS

In this paper, we study the age and spatial distributions of Cepheids in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) as a function of their ages using the data from the OGLE III photometric catalogue. A period-age (PA) relation derived for the Classical Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been used to find the ages of Cepheids. The age distribution of the SMC Classical Cepheids is found to have a peak at log(Age) = 8.40+/-0.10 which suggests that a major star formation event might have occurred in the SMC at about 250+/-50 Myrs ago. It is believed that this star forming burst had been triggered by close interactions of the SMC with the LMC and/or the Milky Way (MW). A comparison of the observed spatial distributions of the Cepheids and open star clusters has also been carried out to study the star formation scenario in the SMC., 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics

The success of helioseismology is due to its capability of measuring p-mode oscillations in the Sun. This allows us to extract informations on the internal structure and rotation of the Sun from the surface to the core. Similarly, asteroseismology is the study of the internal structure of the stars as derived from stellar oscillations. In this review we highlight the progress in the observational asteroseismology, including some basic theoretical aspects. In particular, we discuss our contributions to asteroseismology through the study of chemically peculiar stars under the "Nainital-Cape Survey" project being conducted at ARIES, Nainital since 1999. This survey aims to detect new rapidly-pulsating Ap (roAp) stars in the northern hemisphere. We also discuss the contribution of ARIES towards the asteroseismic study of the compact pulsating variables. We comment on the future prospects of our project in the light of the new optical 3.6-m telescope to be install at Devasthal (ARIES). Finally, we present a preliminary optical design of the high-speed imaging photometers for this telescope., published in Journal of Astrophysics & Astronomy. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1405.3145, arXiv:1212.5084, arXiv:1205.6407, arXiv:1212.2384, arXiv:1109.3455, arXiv:1104.5191, arXiv:1102.1884, arXiv:1310.0696, arXiv:1310.2266 by other authors

The basic physical parameters of a poorly studied open cluster NGC 110 and an unstudied open cluster DOLIDZE 14 are estimated in the present study using the archival PPMXL and WISE catalogues. The radius of both the clusters are estimated by fitting the modified King's empirical model on their stellar density profiles. The other basic parameters of the clusters such as distance, reddening, and age are obtained by visual fitting of the Marigo's solar metallicity isochrone on their IR colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs). The mean-proper motion of the clusters are estimated through the individual proper motion of probable members identified through the dynamical and statistical methods. The archival catalogues (JHKW1W2) are constructed for both the clusters by compiling the extracted data from the PPMXL and WISE catalogues. The various colour-excesses, such as E(J-H), E(H-K) and E(W1-W2), are estimated using the best fit theoretical isochrone on the (J-H)-H, (H-K)-H and (W1-W2)-H CMDs, respectively. The ratios of various infrared colours of the clusters are obtained through their two-colour diagrams. We also identify the most probable members in these clusters by estimating spatial, kinematic and spatio-kinematic probabilities of stars within the cluster. A correlation between the E(H-K) and E(W1-W2) is also established., 23 pages, 7figures

We present photometric analysis of the two W UMa type binaries identified in the field of distant open star cluster NGC6866. Although these systems, namely ID487 and ID494, were reported in the Joshi et al. (2012), but a detailed study of these stars has not been carried out earlier. The orbital periods of these stars are found to be 0.415110+/-0.000001 day and 0.366709+/-0.000004 day, respectively. Based on the photometric and infrared colours, we find their respective spectral types as K0 and K3. The photometric light variations of both the stars show O'Connell effect which could be explained by employing a dark spot on the secondary components. The V and I bands light curves are analyzed using the Wilson-Devinney (WD) code and relations given by Gazeas (2009) which yield radii and mass of the primary and secondary components of the star ID487 as R1 = 1.24+/-0.01 Rsun, R2 = 1.11+/-0.02 Rsun, and M1 = 1.24+/-0.02 Msun, M2 = 0.96+/-0.05 Msun, and for the star ID494 as R1 = 1.22+/-0.02 Rsun, R2 = 0.81+/-0.01 Rsun, and M1 = 1.20+/-0.06 Msun, M2 = 0.47+/-0.01 Msun., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2016, RAA, 16, 11

We present a complete spatial and dynamical study of the poorly populated stellar system ESO65SC03. The radial distribution of the system gives a core and cluster radii of 1.10+/-0.63 arcmin and 5.36+/-0.24 arcmin, respectively. The surface number density profile (SNDP) does not show any clear enhancement of the surface stellar number density between the stars of the system and the field regions. We derive the optimum isochrone solution for a particular grid size in the colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) using the statistical cleaning procedure. Using the statistically cleaned CMDs, we find the distance modulus, (m-M)_0, and reddening, E({B-V}), of the system to be 11.8+/-0.2 mag and 0.45 mag, respectively. The mean proper motion of this system is -5.37+/-0.81 mas/yr and 0.31+/-0.40 in RA and DEC directions, respectively. The mean proper motion of this system is found to be almost similar to the field region. The mass function for the brighter stars is found to be too high for the system to be an open cluster. These combined results place constraints on whether stellar system ESO65SC03 is a possible open star cluster remnant (POCR) or an Asterism. Our understanding is that the ESO65SC03 is in a stage of POCR by loosing their main sequence stars in the dynamic evolution processes., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in PASA

The “Nainital-Cape Survey” program for searching photometric variability in chemically peculiar (CP) stars was initiated in 1997 at ARIES, Nainital. We present here the results obtained to date. The Am stars HD 98851, HD 102480, HD 13079 and HD 113878 were discovered to exhibit δ Scuti type variability. Photometric variability was also discovered in HD 13038, for which the type of peculiarity and variability is not fully explained. The null results of this survey are also presented and discussed.

We report our analysis of the stability of pulsation periods in the DAV star (pulsating hydrogen atmosphere white dwarf) ZZ Ceti, also called R548. On the basis of observations that span 31 years, we conclude that the period 213.13 s observed in ZZ Ceti drifts at a rate dP/dt 5 (5.5 plus or minus 1.9) x 10(exp -15) ss(sup -1), after correcting for proper motion. Our results are consistent with previous P values for this mode and an improvement over them because of the larger time base. The characteristic stability timescale implied for the pulsation period is |P||P(raised dot)|greater than or equal to 1.2 Gyr, comparable to the theoretical cooling timescale for the star. Our current stability limit for the period 213.13 s is only slightly less than the present measurement for another DAV, G117-B15A, for the period 215.2 s, establishing this mode in ZZ Ceti as the second most stable optical clock known, comparable to atomic clocks and more stable than most pulsars. Constraining the cooling rate of ZZ Ceti aids theoretical evolutionary models and white dwarf cosmochronology. The drift rate of this clock is small enough that we can set interesting limits on reflex motion due to planetary companions.

We present UBVRI photometry of stars in the field of the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 559. By determining the stellar membership probabilities derived through a photometric and kinematic study of the cluster, we identify the 22 most probable cluster members. These are used to obtain robust cluster parameters. The mean proper motion of the cluster is \mu_x = -3.29+/-0.35, \mu_y = -1.24+/-0.28 mas/yr. The radial distribution of the stellar surface density gives a cluster radius of 4'.5+/-0'.2 (3.2+/-0.2 pc). By fitting solar metallicity stellar isochrones to the colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams, we find a uniform cluster reddening of E(B-V) = 0.82+/-0.02. The cluster has an age of 224+/-25 Myr and is at a distance of 2.43+/-0.23 kpc. From the optical and near-infrared two-colour diagrams, we obtain colour excesses in the direction of the cluster E(V-K) = 2.14+/-0.02, E(J-K) = 0.37+/-0.01, and E(B-V)= 0.76+/-0.04. A total-to-selective extinction of Rv=3.5+/-0.1 is found in the direction of the cluster which is marginally higher than the normal value. We derive the luminosity function and the mass function for the cluster main sequence. The mass function slope is found to be -2.1+/-0.3. We find evidence of mass segregation in this dynamically relaxed cluster., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 13 pages, 10 figures, 11 tables

The Nainital-Cape survey is a dedicated ongoing survey programme to search for and study pulsational variability in chemically peculiar (CP) stars to understand their internal structure and evolution. The main aims of this survey are to find new pulsating Ap and Am stars in the northern and southern hemisphere and to perform asteroseismic studies of these new pulsators. The survey is conducted using high-speed photometry. The candidate stars were selected on the basis of having Stromgren photometric indices similar to those of known pulsating CP stars. Over the last decade a total of 337 candidate pulsating CP stars were observed for the Nainital-Cape survey, making it one of the longest ground-based surveys for pulsation in CP stars in terms of time span and sample size. The previous papers of this series presented seven new pulsating variables and 229 null results. In this paper we present the light curves, frequency spectra and the various astrophysical parameters of the 108 additional CP stars observed since the last reported results. We have also tabulated the basic physical parameters of the known roAp stars. As part of establishing the detection limits in the Nainital-Cape survey, we investigated the scintillation noise level at the two observing sites used in this survey, Sutherland and Nainital, by comparing the combined frequency spectra stars observed from each location. Our analysis shows that both the sites permit the detection of variations on the order of 0.6 milli-magnitude (mmag) in the frequency range 1-4 mHz, with Sutherland being marginally better, on average.

We report the discovery of large scale diffuse non-thermal radio emission in PLCK G287.0+32.9, an exceptionally hot (T ~ 13 keV), massive and luminous galaxy cluster, strongly detected by the PLANCK satellite in a recent, all-sky blind search for new clusters through Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect. Giant Metrewave Radio telescope 150 MHz and Very Large Array 1.4 GHz radio data reveal a pair of giant (>1 Mpc) "arc" shaped peripheral radio-relics (signatures of shock waves) of unprecedented scale (linear separation ~4.4 Mpc at redshift 0.39), located at distances from the cluster center which are about 0.7 and 1.3 of the cluster's virial radius. Another possible giant relic and a radio-halo is detected closer to the cluster center. These relic sources are unique "signposts" of extremely energetic mergers and shocks (both ongoing and past), that are assembling and heating up this very massive galaxy cluster. They are also a probe of the filamentary cosmic-web structure beyond the cluster virial radius. Optical imaging with the IUCAA 2 meter telescope and XMM-Newton X-ray data confirm a very rich galaxy cluster with a morphologically disturbed core region, suggesting a dynamically perturbed merging system., This version matches with the published version in Astrophysical Journal Letters

Here we present the report on the “Nainital–Cape survey” research project aiming to search for and study the pulsational variability of main-sequence chemically peculiar (CP) stars. For this study, the time-series photometric observations of the sample stars were carried out at the 1.04 m ARIES telescope (India), while the high-resolution spectroscopic and spectro-polarimetric observations were carried out at the the 6.0 m Russian telescope. Under this project, we have recently found clear evidence of photometric variability in the Am star HD 73045, which is likely to be pulsating in nature with a period of about 36 min, hence adding a new member to the family of the δ Scuti pulsating variables that have peculiar abundances.

The Nainital-Cape survey is a dedicated research programme to search and study pulsational variability in chemically peculiar stars in the Northern Hemisphere. The aim of the survey is to search such chemically peculiar stars which are pulsationally unstable. The observations of the sample stars were carried out in high-speed photometric mode using a three-channel fast photometer attached to the 1.04-m Sampurnanand telescope at ARIES. The new photometric observations confirmed that the pulsational period of star HD25515 is 2.78-hrs. The repeated time-series observations of HD113878 and HD118660 revealed that previously known frequencies are indeed present in the new data sets. We have estimated the distances, absolute magnitudes, effective temperatures and luminosities of these stars. Their positions in the H-R diagram indicate that HD25515 and HD118660 lie near the main-sequence while HD113878 is an evolved star. We also present a catalogue of 61 stars classified as null results, along with the corresponding 87 frequency spectra taken over the time scale 2002-2008. A statistical analysis of these null results shows, by comparison with past data, that the power of the noise in the light curves has slightly increased during the last few years., 24 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics

International audience; Context: L-type ultra-cool dwarfs and brown dwarfs have cloudy atmospheres that could host weather-like phenomena. The detection of photometric or spectral variability would provide insight into unresolved atmospheric heterogeneities, such as holes in a global cloud deck. Indeed, a number of ultra-cool dwarfs have been reported to vary. Additional time-resolved spectral observations of brown dwarfs offer the opportunity for further constraining and characterising atmospheric variability. Aims: It has been proposed that growth of heterogeneities in the global cloud deck may account for the L- to T-type transition when brown dwarf photospheres evolve from cloudy to clear conditions. Such a mechanism is compatible with variability. We searched for variability in the spectra of five L6 to T6 brown dwarfs to test this hypothesis. Methods: We obtained spectroscopic time series using the near-infrared spectrographs ISAAC on VLT-ANTU, over 0.99-1.13 μm, and SpeX on the Infrared Telescope Facility for two of our targets in the J, H, and K bands. We searched for statistically variable lines and for a correlation between those. Results: High spectral-frequency variations are seen in some objects, but these detections are marginal and need to be confirmed. We find no evidence of large-amplitude variations in spectral morphology and we place firm upper limits of 2 to 3% on broad-band variability, depending on the targets and wavelengths, on the time scale of a few hours. In contrast to the rest of the sample, the T2 transition brown dwarf SDSS J1254-0122 shows numerous variable features, but a secure variability diagnosis would require further observations. Conclusions: Assuming that any variability arises from the rotation of patterns of large-scale clear and cloudy regions across the surface, we find that the typical physical scale of cloud-cover disruption should be smaller than 5-8% of the disk area for four of our targets, using simplistic heterogeneous atmospheric models. The possible variations seen in SDSS J1254-0122 are not strong enough to allow us to confirm the cloud-breaking hypothesis. Based on observations obtained at the European Observatory, Paranal, Chile, under programme 71.C-0559.

Taking a clue from their sharp-edged (strip-like) morphology observed in several cases, a new mechanism is proposed for the formation of the emission gaps seen between the radio lobes of many powerful extragalactic double radio sources. Canonical understanding of the radio gaps invokes either blocking of the back-flowing lobe plasma by the denser interstellar medium (ISM) of the host galaxy, or "squeezing" of the radio bridge in the middle through buoyancy force exerted by either the ISM or the surrounding intra-cluster medium (ICM). These pictures encounter difficulties in explaining situations where the sharp-edged radio gaps associated with non-cluster radio galaxies have widths running into several tens (even hundreds) of kiloparsecs. More particularly, the required dense high-pressure ISM/ICM is likely to be lacking at least in the case of high-redshift radio galaxies. We propose here that radio emission gaps in at least such cases could arise from a dynamical interaction between the powerful thermal wind outflowing from the active galactic nucleus and the back-flowing synchrotron plasma in the two radio lobes, which occurs once the rapidly advancing jets have crossed out of the wind zone into the intergalactic medium. A simple analytical scheme is presented to explore the plausibility of the side-ways confinement of the thermal wind by the radio lobe pair, which would "freeze" pancake shaped conduits in the space, along which the hot, metal enriched wind from the AGN can escape (roughly orthogonal to the radio axis). Some other possible consequences of this scenario are pointed out., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures [one .jpg], official version published in MNRAS

We report the discovery of a very unusual, highly asymmetric radio galaxy whose radio jet, the largest yet detected, emits strongly polarized synchrotron radiation and can be traced all the way from the galactic nucleus to the hot spot located ~440 kpc away. This jet emanates from an extremely massive black hole (>10^9 solar mass) and forms a strikingly compact radio lobe. No radio lobe is detected on the side of the counterjet, even though it is similar to the main jet in brightness up to a scale of tens of kiloparsecs. Thus, contrary to the nearly universal trend, the brightness asymmetry in this radio galaxy increases with distance from the nucleus. With several unusual properties, including a predominantly toroidal magnetic field, this Fanaroff-Riley type II megajet is an exceptionally useful laboratory for testing the role of magnetic field in jet stabilization and radio lobe formation., Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 670, L85-L88, 2007

To search photometric variability in chemically peculiar A type stars in the northern hemisphere. High-speed photometric observations of Ap and Am star candidates have been carried out from ARIES (Manora Peak, Nainital) using a three-channel fast photometer attached to the ARIES 104-cm Sampurnanand telescope. This paper presents three new variables: HD 113878, HD 118660 and HD 207561. During the time span of the survey (1999 December to 2004 January) pulsations of the $\delta$ Sct type were also found for the two evolved Am stars HD 102480 and HD 98851, as reported in Joshi et al. (2002, 2003). Additionally, we present 140 null results of the survey for this time span. The star HD 113878 pulsates with a period of 2.31 hr, which is typical of $\delta$ Sct stars. HD 118660 exhibits multi-periodic variability with a prominent period of nearly 1 hr. These periods need to be investigated and make HD 118660 a particularly interesting target for further observations. For HD 207561, a star classified as Am, a probable pulsation with a period of 6 min was found in the light curves obtained on two consecutive nights. Both HD 102480 and HD 98851 exhibit unusual alternating high and low amplitude maxima, with a period ratio of 2:1. The analysis of the null results confirms the photometric quality of the Nainital, Comment: 14 pages, 13 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A

HR 1217 is one of the best-studied rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars, with a frequency spectrum of alternating even- and odd-� modes that are distorted by the presence of a strong, global magnetic field. Several recent theoretical studies have found that within the observable

HR1217 is a prototypical rapidly oscillating Ap star that has presented a test to the theory of nonradial stellar pulsation. Prior observations showed a clear pattern of five modes with alternating frequency spacings of 33.3 μHz and 34.6 μHz, with a sixth mode at a problematic spacing of 50.0 μHz (which equals 1.5 × 33.3 μHz) to the highfrequency side. Asymptotic pulsation theory allowed for a frequency spacing of 34 μHz, but hipparcos observations rule out such a spacing. Theoretical calculations of magnetoacoustic modes in Ap stars by Cunha (2001) predicted that there should be a previously undetected mode 34 μHz higher than the main group, with a smaller spacing between it and the highest one. The 20th extended coverage campaign of the Whole Earth Telescope (XCov20) has discovered this frequency as predicted by Cunha (2001). Amplitude modulation of several of the pulsation modes between the 1986 and 2000 data sets has also been discovered, while important parameters for modelling the geometry of the pulsation modes have been shown to be unchanged. With stringent selection of the best data from the WET network the amplitude spectrum shows highest peaks at only 50 μmag and formal errors on the determined amplitudes are 14 μmag. Some lessons for future use of WET for the highest precision photometry on bright stars are discussed.

We present results from a multisite (‘Whole Earth Telescope’) photometric campaign on PG 1336−018, the close eclipsing binary system containing a pulsating subdwarf B (sdB) star. The main part of the campaign (1999 April) resulted in ~172 h of observations, representing a coverage of about 47 per cent, and additional data were obtained outside the core campaign. Periodogram analysis shows that the light variations are dominated by three frequencies near 5757, 5585 and 5369 μHz (~174, 179 and 186s, respectively), although many frequencies are present, particularly in the range 5000–6000 μHz (~200–170 s). We identify, with some confidence, 28 frequencies down to a semi-amplitude of 0.0005 in fractional intensity (equivalent to about 0.5 mmag). It is clear that the pulsation frequencies of PG 1336−018 have changed substantially since the 1996 discovery observations were made, and that amplitude changes occur, at least in the dominant three frequencies, on relatively short time-scales (of the order of a day). On the assumption that the pulsating star is phase-locked in the binary system, we have searched for rotational splitting of frequencies near the orbital and half of the orbital period, but the results are confused by aliasing at those frequencies (due to the data gaps caused by the eclipses). A preliminary model qualitatively matches the distribution of frequencies in PG 1336−018, with some good individual correspondences, but cannot be considered adequate because geometric cancellation should hide some of the modes which are apparently detected. Analysis of the pulsations during eclipse recovers three of the strongest modes, but the limited eclipse data – which can, at best, be only about 9 per cent of the total – do not allow mode identification at this stage. Simulations indicate that an overall coverage of about 80 per cent would be required for this to be viable. An attempt was made to determine phase shifts in the pulsation frequencies as a way of directly measuring the size of the binary orbit, but the uncertainties in the method are comparable to the light travel time across the orbit (probably less than a second).

We present the analysis of 65 hours of high speed photometric observations of HD 12098 taken from State Observatory, Naini Tal and Gurushikhar Observatory, Mt.Abu on sixteen nights spanning from November 1999 to November 2000. HD 12098 is the first rapidly oscillating Ap star discovered from the `Naini Tal-Cape survey for northern hemisphere roAp stars'. It is the 32nd in the complete list. HD 12098 exhibits one predominant mode of oscillation at nu_1 = 2.1738 mHz. The second-most significant frequency in our data is at nu_2 = 2.1641 mHz with a 1 cycle/day alias ambiguity. We argue that nu_2 is a rotational sidelobe of nu_1, rather than an independent pulsation mode. Evidence for the presence of two other frequencies at 2.1807 and 2.3056 mHz is also presented., 6 pages, 4 eps figures, A&A style, Accepted for publication in A&A