Search

In the previous numerical study, we find the blob formation and ejection in the presence of magnetic reconnection in the environment of the hot flow of the accretion disc. Based on those encouraging results, in the present work, we calculate the energy and the spectrum of the emission in the different bands around sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). We assume the electrons in the magnetic reconnection region are non-thermal and emit synchrotron radiation. The electrons in the other region are thermal, which follows the thermal distribution, and the thermal electron emission mechanism is thermal synchrotron radiation. During the whole process of the magnetic evolution and reconnection, we find two peaks in the temporal light curve in the recently observed radio frequencies (230 and 43 GHz) and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths (3.8 and 2.2 μm). Although the light curve of the NIR band is most prominent in a single peak. The first peak appears because of the blob in the plasma flow, which is formed due to the magnetic reconnection. The second peak appears due to the production of the non-thermal electrons with the evolution of the magnetic flux. Both peaks reach luminosity of more than 1026 erg s−1 for a single plasmoid/blob. For the NIR band, the highest luminosity can reach more than 1028 erg s−1. These luminosities can be high for the large simulation area and the stronger magnetic field with the multiple blobs. We infer that the observed flares are a group of magnetic reconnection phenomena, not a single one.

Active galactic nucleus (AGN) emission is dominated by stochastic, aperiodic variability which overwhelms any periodic/quasi-periodic signal (QPO) if one is present. The Auto Correlation Function (ACF) and Phase Dispersion Minimization (PDM) techniques have been used previously to claim detections of QPOs in AGN light curves. In this paper we perform Monte Carlo simulations to empirically test QPO detection feasibility in the presence of red noise. Given the community's access to large databases of monitoring light curves via large-area monitoring programmes, our goal is to provide guidance to those searching for QPOs via data trawls. We simulate evenly-sampled pure red noise light curves to estimate false alarm probabilities; false positives in both tools tend to occur towards timescales longer than (very roughly) one-third of the light curve duration. We simulate QPOs mixed with pure red noise and determine the true-positive detection sensitivity; in both tools, it depends strongly on the relative strength of the QPO against the red noise and on the steepness of the red noise PSD slope. We find that extremely large values of peak QPO power relative to red noise (typically $\sim 10^{4-5}$) are needed for a 99.7 per cent true-positive detection rate. Given that the true-positive detections using the ACF or PDM are generally rare to obtain, we conclude that period searches based on the ACF or PDM must be treated with extreme caution when the data quality is not good. We consider the feasibility of QPO detection in the context of highly-inclined, periodically self-lensing supermassive black hole binaries., Comment: 21 pages, 14 figures, Published in MNRAS

We modelled optical light curves of Sco~X-1 obtained by the Kepler space telescope during K2 mission. Modelling was performed for the case of the strong heating of the optical star and accretion disc by X-rays. In the considered model the optical star fully filled its Roche lobe. We investigated the inverse problem in wide ranges of values of model parameters and estimated following parameters of Sco X-1: the mass ratio of components $q=M_x/M_v=3.6$ ($3.5-3.8$), where $M_x$ and $M_v$ were masses of the neutron and optical stars correspondingly, the orbital inclination was $i=30^{\circ}$ ($25^{\circ}-34^{\circ}$). In the brackets uncertainties of parameters $q$ and $i$ were shown, they originated due to uncertainties of characteristics of the physical model of Sco X-1. The temperature of non-heated optical star was $T_2 = 2500-3050$ K, its radius was $R_2=1.25R_{\odot}=8.7\times 10^{10}$ cm, and its bolometric luminosity was $L_{bol}=(2.1-4.6)\times 10^{32}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The mass of the star was $M_v\simeq 0.4M_{\odot}$. The contribution of the X-ray heated accretion disc dominated in the total optical emission of Sco~X-1. The transition between low and high states occurred due to the increase of X-ray luminosity by a factor $2-3$., 18 pages, 17 figures, MNRAS accepted

We present a new method of modelling time-series data based on the running optimal average (ROA). By identifying the effective number of parameters for the ROA model, in terms of the shape and width of its window function and the times and accuracies of the data, we enable a Bayesian analysis, optimising the ROA width, along with other model parameters, by minimising the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and sampling joint posterior parameter distributions using MCMC methods. For analysis of quasar lightcurves, our implementation of ROA modelling can measure time delays among lightcurves at different wavelengths or from different images of a lensed quasar and, in future work, be used to inter-calibrate lightcurve data from different telescopes and estimate the shape and thus the power-density spectrum of the lightcurve. Our noise model implements a robust treatment of outliers and error-bar adjustments to account for additional variance or poorly-quantified uncertainties. Tests with simulated data validate the parameter uncertainty estimates. We compare ROA delay measurements with results from cross-correlation and from JAVELIN, which models lightcurves with a prior on the power-density spectrum. We analyse published COSMOGRAIL lightcurves of multi-lensed quasar lightcurves and present the resulting measurements of the inter-image time delays and detection of microlensing effects., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

They are offered reflective features to external surface geostationary satellites on which possible identify the separate external construction geostationary satellites. Such constructions can be; the type and forms radio antennas, solar panels, thermo film on surfaces of the platform. They are given to recommendations and specified moments of time, condition, under which possible find the external payload. The paper presents the results of colorimetric observations of 5 GSS of multipurpose operation, on the platform of which an external payload in the form of several radio antennas was found, and in some cases the orientation and technical characteristics of the GSS were estimated, Запропоновано світловідбивачі характеристики поверхні GSS, до яких можна визначити окремі зовнішні структури геостаціонарного супутника. Такі конструкції можуть бути; тип і форма радіо антеніни, сонячні батареї, термо-плівка на поверхні платформи. Дані рекомендації та моменти часу, умови, за яких можна знайти зовнішнє корисне навантаження. У роботі наведено результати колориметричних спостережень 5 ГСС багатоцільового призначення, на платформі яких виявлено зовнішнє корисне навантаження у вигляді кількох радіоантен, а в окремих випадках оцінено орієнтацію та технічні характеристики ГСС.

We present broad-band photometry of 30 planetary transits of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-16b, using five medium-class telescopes. The transits were monitored through standard B, V, R, I filters and four were simultaneously observed from different places, for a total of 36 new light curves. We used these new photometric data and those from the TESS space telescope to review the main physical properties of the KELT-16 planetary system. Our results agree with previous measurements but are more precise. We estimated the mid-transit times for each of these transits and combined them with others from the literature to obtain 69 epochs, with a time baseline extending over more than four years, and searched for transit time variations. We found no evidence for a period change, suggesting a lower limit for orbital decay at 8 Myr, with a lower limit on the reduced tidal quality factor of $Q^{\prime}_{\star}>(1.9 \pm 0.8) \times 10^5$ with $95\%$ confidence. We built up an observational, low-resolution transmission spectrum of the planet, finding evidence of the presence of optical absorbers, although with a low significance. Using TESS data, we reconstructed the phase curve finding that KELT-16b has a phase offset of $25.25 \pm 14.03$ $^{\circ}$E, a day- and night-side brightness temperature of $3190 \pm 61$ K and $2668 \pm 56$ K, respectively. Finally, we compared the flux ratio of the planet over its star at the TESS and Spitzer wavelengths with theoretical emission spectra, finding evidence of a temperature inversion in the planet's atmosphere, the chemical composition of which is preferably oxygen-rich rather than carbon-rich., 17 pages, 16 figures, Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

We conduct three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of eccentric common envelope jets supernova (CEJSN) impostors, i.e., a neutron star (NS) that crosses through the envelope of a red supergiant star on a highly eccentric orbit and launches jets as it accretes mass from the envelope. Because of numerical limitations we apply a simple prescription where we inject the assumed jets' power into two opposite conical regions inside the envelope. We find the outflow morphology to be very complicated, clumpy, and non-spherical, having a large-scale symmetry only about the equatorial plane. The outflow morphology can substantially differ between simulations that differ by their jets' power. We estimate by simple means the light curve to be very bumpy, to have a rise time of one to a few months, and to slowly decay in about a year to several years. These eccentric CEJSN impostors will be classified as `gap' objects, i.e., having a luminosity between those of classical novae and typical supernovae (termed also ILOTs for intermediate luminosity optical transients). We strengthen a previous conclusion that CEJSN impostors might account for some peculiar ILOTs, in particular those that might repeat over timescales of months to years., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

When the light from a distant object passes very near to a foreground galaxy or cluster, gravitational lensing can cause it to appear as multiple images on the sky. If the source is variable, it can be used to constrain the cosmic expansion rate and dark energy models. Achieving these cosmological goals requires many lensed transients with precise time delay measurements. Lensed supernovae (SN) are attractive for this purpose because they have relatively simple photometric behavior, with well-understood light curve shapes and colours $-$ in contrast to the stochastic variation of quasars. Here we report the discovery of a multiply-imaged supernova, AT2016jka ("SN Requiem"). It appeared in an evolved galaxy at $z=1.95$, gravitationally lensed by a foreground galaxy cluster. It is likely a Type Ia supernova $-$ the explosion of a low-mass stellar remnant, whose light curve can be used to measure cosmic distances. In archival Hubble Space Telescope imaging, three lensed images of the supernova are detected with relative time delays of $, Comment: Accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Main text = 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table; Full document = 28 pages, 12 figures with Methods, Supplemental Info and references. v2: reformatted; minor corrections in SI

We present the discovery and characterisation of an eclipsing binary identified by the Next Generation Transit Survey in the $\sim$115 Myr old Blanco 1 open cluster. NGTS J0002-29 comprises three M dwarfs: a short-period binary and a companion in a wider orbit. This system is the first well-characterised, low-mass eclipsing binary in Blanco 1. With a low mass ratio, a tertiary companion and binary components that straddle the fully convective boundary, it is an important benchmark system, and one of only two well-characterised, low-mass eclipsing binaries at this age. We simultaneously model light curves from NGTS, TESS, SPECULOOS and SAAO, radial velocities from VLT/UVES and Keck/HIRES, and the system's spectral energy distribution. We find that the binary components travel on circular orbits around their common centre of mass in $P_{\rm orb} = 1.09800524 \pm 0.00000038$ days, and have masses $M_{\rm pri}=0.3978\pm 0.0033$ M$_{\odot}$ and $M_{\rm sec}=0.2245\pm 0.0018$ M$_{\odot}$, radii $R_{\rm pri}=0.4037\pm 0.0048$ R$_{\odot}$ and $R_{\rm sec}=0.2759\pm 0.0055$ R$_{\odot}$, and effective temperatures $T_{\rm pri}=3372\,^{+44}_{-37}$ K and $T_{\rm sec}=3231\,^{+38}_{-31}$ K. We compare these properties to the predictions of seven stellar evolution models, which typically imply an inflated primary. The system joins a list of 19 well-characterised, low-mass, sub-Gyr, stellar-mass eclipsing binaries, which constitute some of the strongest observational tests of stellar evolution theory at low masses and young ages., 21 pages, 9 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Methodological studies of spectral characteristics and statistical analysis of flicker noise are presented on the example of two data samples (2016–2017) on the X-ray nova A0620-00. The results obtained indicate the nature of flicker noise as aperiodic phenomenon in stellar atmospheres and in regions of interaction between stars in binary systems, including phenomena of a flare nature. We showed that flicker noise is described by distributions of non-negative random variables: gamma distribution and Weibull distribution, which makes it related to atmospheric processes in meteorology and geological processes (earthquakes). Modeling of these processes shows structural correspondence to real data (Hurst diagrams), and also indicates the presence of additional unaccounted for noise of a presumably Gaussian nature. The performed studies give recommendations to supplement the models of the light curves of binary astrophysical systems with the gamma distribution and the Weibull distribution.

The problem of interpretation of a photometric light curve and the use of the Lomb–Scargle periodogram to determine the rotation period of fast-rotating artificial Earth satellites (AESs) when they are observed with a slow read-out CCD camera are described. A method for solving this problem is given. It is proposed, if there is a priori information about the AES rotation period, to use the Lomb–Scargle periodogram in a narrowed frequency range; in the absence of a priori information, the problem is solved by using trail photometry. Comparison of results obtained with different telescopes equipped with different slow read-out CCD cameras with results independently obtained with other telescopes equipped with fast read-out CCD cameras clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the method in both cases. The limitations in the applicability of the method application and possible ways to improve its accuracy are also considered.

Magnetospheric accretion models predict that matter from protoplanetary disks accretes onto the star via funnel flows which follow the stellar field lines and shock on the stellar surface leaving a hot spot with a density gradient. Previous work has inferred different densities in the hot spot, but has not been sensitive to the radial density distribution. Attempts have been made to measure this with X-ray observations, but X-ray emission only traces a fraction of the hot spot and also coronal emission. Here we report periodic ultraviolet and optical light curves of the accreting star GM Aur that display a time lag of about 1 day between their peaks. The periodicity arises as the source of the ultraviolet and optical emission moves into and out of view as it rotates along with the star. The time-lag indicates a difference in the spatial distribution of ultraviolet and optical brightness over the stellar surface. Within the framework of the magnetospheric accretion model, this indicates a radial density gradient in a hot spot on the stellar surface since different density parts of the hot spot are expected to emit radiation at different wavelengths. These results are the first observational confirmation of the magnetospheric accretion model's prediction of a density gradient in the hot spot and demonstrate the insights gained from focusing on the wavelengths where the bulk of the accretion energy can be observed., published in Nature; open access link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03751-5

This paper presents the results of the photometric CCD observations of the NEA (2100) Ra-Shalom carried out on August 24–29, 2019, at the 1-m telescope of the Sanglokh Observatory of the Institute of Astrophysics, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan. The rotation period P = 19.8 ± 0.1 h was determined. Composite light curves were plotted in the photometric BVR bands; the brightness amplitude ΔV = 0.61m ± 0.05m and the average values of the color indices B–V = 0.75m ± 0.05m, V–R = 0.40m ± 0.02m were determined. Variations in the color indices with rotation period are within the measurement errors, which indicates that the reflectivity of Ra-Shalom’s surface is uniform. The absolute stellar magnitude of the asteroid is 15.91m ± 0.10m. The ratio of the asteroid’s axes a/b = 1.75.

Several powerful outbursts have been observed during many years of observations of the symbiotic object MWC 560. The last active stage began in the autumn of 2018 and continues to the present. Observations of this event began at the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute at the beginning of 2019. In our previous article we published the results obtained in early 2019. A light curve of the object and emission line profiles are presented; it is noted that a broad absorption band formed in a high velocity collimated jet vanishes. In this article we present the results of further spectral and photometric observations of MWC 560. It is to be noted that in 2021 the brightness of this object is sustained at a high level exceeding that obtained during the previous outbursts. In addition, at the end of 2020 a tendency toward a gradual weakening of the radiative fluxes in the emission lines was remarked. The profiles of all the lines have absorption components shifted to the “blue” by 52±5 km/s. It may be assumed that during this outburst there was partial (or complete) destruction of the accretion disk, so that the source of the high velocity collimated jet vanished. The gradual reduction in the radiative fluxes in the emission lines may be caused by a drop in the power of ionizing radiation.

One possibility for detecting low-amplitude pulsational variations is through gravitational microlensing. During a microlensing event, the temporary brightness increase leads to improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio, and thereby better detectability of pulsational signatures in light curves. We explore this possibility under two primary considerations. The first is when the standard point-source and point-lens approximation applies. In this scenario, dividing the observed light curve by the best-fitted microlensing model leads to residuals that result in pulsational features with improved uncertainties. The second is for transit events (single lens) or caustic crossing (binary lens). The point-source approximation breaks down, and residuals relative to a simple best-fitted microlensing model display more complex behavior. We employ a Monte-Carlo simulation of microlensing of pulsating variables toward the Galactic bulge for the surveys of OGLE and of KMTNet. We demonstrate that the efficiency for detecting pulsational signatures with intrinsic amplitudes of $350$, is $\sim 50-60\%$. The maximum efficiency occurs for pulsational periods $P \simeq 0.1-0.3$ days. We also study the possibility that high-magnification microlensing events of non-radially pulsating stars (NRPs) could be misinterpreted as planetary or binary microlensing events. We conclude that small asymmetric features around lightcurve peaks due to stellar pulsations could be misdiagnosed with crossing (or passing close to) small caustic curves., Comment: 11 pages, 4 Figures, 4 Tables

Analysis of timing variation of the eclipsing binary RR Dra implies the existence of an additional object with mass of no less than 3.5(±0.2) M⊙. This third object is orbiting around the central eclipsing pair once every 98(±1) yr, making the whole a hierarchical triple system. However, reliable photometric solutions based on light curves from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite and WASP show that contribution of the third-light takes only about 2 per cent of the total luminosity. It could photometrically be attributed to other unrelated star located within the aperture. The tertiary component is thus a massive object but invisible in optical wavelengths. Besides, evidence of misalignment between the barycenter and the centre of light of the system is also found. This strengthen the existence of a hidden black hole candidate in the form of the third body. The potential black hole may play an essential role in extracting angular momentum from the central binary pair, forming the current state. As a good laboratory, RR Dra is an interesting system that can help to study stellar-mass black hole under the circumbinary case.

EZ Cnc, or EPIC 212182292, is a non-Blazhko RRab variable star located in the field of K2 Campaign 16. Its atmospheric parameters ($T_{\rm eff}$, $\log{g}$, [M/H]) and radial velocities are measured from the 55 high-quality LAMOST medium-resolution spectra. The fundamental frequency of pulsation is derived as $f=1.8323(17)$ d$^{-1}$ from the K2 light curves. The amplitude ratios $R_{21} = 0.5115(15), 0.490(8)$, $R_{31} = 0.3249(20), 0.279(7)$ and Fourier phase differences $\varphi_{21}=2.7550(20), 2.764(16)$, $\varphi_{31}=5.7194(25), 5.719(31)$ are determined from the Fourier decomposition of K2 light curve and LAMOST radial velocity curve, respectively. Through the constraints of the parameters, four optimal models are obtained in a time-dependent turbulent convection model survey for EPIC 212182292. The parameters of EPIC 212182292 are derived as $M=0.48\pm0.03$ M$_{\odot}$, $L = 42\pm2$ L$_{\odot}$, $T_{\rm eff}=6846\pm50$ K, $\log{g}=2.79\pm0.01$ dex, and $Z = 0.006\pm0.002$, respectively. The precisely determined parameters for RRab variable stars like EPIC 212180092 might help to better understand the period-luminosity relationship of RR Lyrae stars., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables, Accepted for publication in MNRAS 9/6/2021

White-light flares are magnetically driven localized brightenings on the surfaces of stars. Their temporal, spectral, and statistical properties present a treasury of physical information about stellar magnetic fields. The spatial distributions of magnetic spots and associated flaring regions help constrain dynamo theories. Moreover, flares are thought to crucially affect the habitability of exoplanets that orbit these stars. Measuring the location of flares on stars other than the Sun is challenging due to the lack of spatial resolution. Here we present four fully convective stars observed with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) that displayed large, long-duration flares in white-light which were modulated in brightness by the stars' fast rotation. This allowed us to determine the loci of these flares directly from the light curves. All four flares occurred at latitudes between 55 deg and 81 deg, far higher than typical solar flare latitudes. Our findings are evidence that strong magnetic fields tend to emerge close to the stellar rotational poles for fully convective stars, and suggest that the impact of flares on the habitability of exoplanets around small stars could be weaker than previously thought., Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures, accepted to MNRAS, see conference poster https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4558791 for short summary

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) come in two types, short and long. The distribution of logarithmic durations of long GRBs is asymmetric rather than Gaussian. Such an asymmetry, when modelled with a mixture of Gaussian distributions, requires an introduction of an additional component, often associated with another class of GRBs. However, when modelled with inherently asymmetric distributions, there is no need for such a component. The cosmological dilation was already ruled out as a source of the asymmetry, hence its origin resides in the progenitors. GRB light curves (LCs) are usually well described by a series of fast-rise-exponential-decay pulses. A statistical analysis of ensembles of simulated LCs shows that the asymmetry is a natural consequence of the pulse shape and the multi-pulse character of the LCs., Comment: 8 pages, 3+2 figures; accepted in MNRAS

One of the advantages of observations of gravitational microlensing is stellar spots detection. Our aim ‎in this paper is to study and characterize the perturbations due to stellar spots on the microlensing ‎light curves. Considering a suitable formalism for the stellar spots, we simulate the microlensing of ‎spotted source stars. One of the effects of a spot on stellar light curve is the local demagnification (where ‎the lens is crossing the stellar spot) and it causes asymmetric perturbations on the light curve. The ‎spots that locate at the source center after projection make larger and deeper perturbations than the ‎spots locate the stellar limbs. In caustic crossing binary microlensing events, the typical-size spot-‎induced perturbations mostly make (more than 40‏‎ percent) the relative deviations larger than ‎‏5‏‎. This ‎fraction is bigger for single lensing events‎‎‎.‎

We study the initial conditions of a common envelope (CE) event resulting in a stellar merger. A merger's dynamics could be understood through its light curve, but no synthetic light curve has yet been created for the full evolution. Using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) code StarSmasher, we have created three-dimensional (3D) models of a 1.52 $M_\odot$ star that is a plausible donor in the V1309 Sco progenitor. The integrated total energy profiles of our 3D models match their initial one-dimensional (1D) models to within a 0.1 per cent difference in the top 0.1 $M_\odot$ of their envelopes. We have introduced a new method for obtaining radiative flux by linking intrinsically optically thick SPH particles to a single stellar envelope solution from a set of unique solutions. For the first time, we calculated our 3D models' effective temperatures to within a few per cent of the initial 1D models, and found a corresponding improvement in luminosity by a factor of $\gtrsim10^6$ compared to ray tracing. We let our highest resolution 3D model undergo Roche-lobe overflow with a 0.16 $M_\odot$ point-mass accretor ($P\simeq1.6$ days) and found a bolometric magnitude variability amplitude of $\sim0.3$ -- comparable to that of the V1309 Sco progenitor. Our 3D models are, in the top 0.1 $M_\odot$ of the envelope and in terms of total energy, the most accurate models so far of the V1309 Sco donor star. A dynamical simulation that uses the initial conditions we presented in this paper can be used to create the first ever synthetic CE evolution light curve., 13 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present the identification of 34 likely binary central stars (CSs) of planetary nebulae (PNe) from {\it Kepler/K2} data, seven of which show eclipses. Of these, 29 are new discoveries. Two additional CSs with more complicated variability are also presented. We examined the light curves of all `possible', `likely' and `true' PNe in every {\it Kepler/K2} campaign (0 through 19) to identify CS variability that may indicate a binary CS. For Campaigns 0, 2, 7, 15, and 16 we find 6 likely or confirmed variables among 21 PNe. Our primary effort, though, was focused on Campaign 11 which targeted a Galactic bulge field containing approximately 183 PNe, in which we identified 30 candidate variable CSs. The periods of these variables range from 2.3~h to 30~d, and based on our analysis, most are likely to be close binary star systems. We present periods and preliminary classifications (eclipsing, double degenerate, or irradiated systems) for the likely binaries based on light curve shape. From our total sample of 204 target PNe, with a correction for incompleteness due to magnitude limits, we calculate a binary fraction of PN central stars to be 20.7 percent for all the observed PNe, or 23.5 percent if we limit our sample only to `true' PNe. However these fractions are almost certainly lower limits due to the large angular size of the \emph{Kepler} pixels, which leads to reduced sensitivity in detecting variability, primarily as a result of dilution and noise from the nebula and neighbouring stars. We discuss the binary population of CSs based on these results as part of the total known sample of close binary CSs., Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Active galactic nuclei (AGN) are prominent environments for stellar capture, growth and formation. These environments may catalyze stellar mergers and explosive transients, such as thermonuclear and core-collapse supernovae (SNe). SN explosions in AGN discs generate strong shocks, leading to unique observable signatures. We develop an analytical model which follows the evolution of the shock propagating in the disc until it eventually breaks out. We derive the peak luminosity, bolometric lightcurve, and breakout time. The peak luminosities may exceed $10^{45}$ erg s$^{-1}$ and last from hours to days. The brightest explosions occur in regions of reduced density; either off-plane, or in discs around low-mass central black holes ($\sim 10^6\ M_\odot$), or in starved subluminous AGNs. Explosions in the latter two sites are easier to observe due to a reduced AGN background luminosity. We perform suites of 1D Lagrangian radiative hydrodynamics SNEC code simulations to validate our results and obtain the luminosity in different bands, and 2D axisymmetric Eulerian hydrodynamics code HORMONE simulations to study the morphology of the ejecta and its deviation from spherical symmetry. The observed signature is expected to be a bright blue, UV, or X-ray flare on top of the AGN luminosity from the initial shock breakout, while the subsequent red part of the lightcurve will largely be unobservable. We estimate the upper limit for the total event rate to be $\mathcal{R}\lesssim 100\ \rm yr^{-1}\ Gpc^{-3}$ for optimal conditions and discuss the large uncertainties in this estimate. Future high-cadence transient searches may reveal these events. Some existing tidal disruption event candidates may originate from AGN supernovae., Accepted to MNRAS

We present here the discovery of a new class of superslow rotating asteroids (Prot ≳1000 h) in data extracted from the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) and Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) all-sky surveys. Of the 39 rotation periods we report here, 32 have periods longer than any previously reported unambiguous rotation periods currently in the Asteroid Light Curve Data base. In our sample, seven objects have a rotation period >4000 h and the longest period we report here is 4812 h (∼200 d). We do not observe any correlation between taxonomy, albedo, or orbital properties with superslow rotating status. The most plausible mechanism for the creation of these very slow rotators is if their rotations were slowed by YORP spin-down. Superslow rotating asteroids may be common, with at least 0.4 per cent of the main-belt asteroid population with a size range between 2 and 20 km in diameter rotating with periods longer than 1000 h.

HL Draconis (HL Dra) is an oscillating eclipsing binary with an orbital period of 0.944276 d. By analysing the light curves observed with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), it has been detected that HL Dra is an Algol-like binary system with a mass ratio of 0.361, where the radius filling factor (=r/RL) of the primary and secondary component is $87\, {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and $98\, {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, respectively. The secondary component is almost filling its critical Roche lobe, but not entirely. The absolute parameters of the component are estimated in this paper. Both the variable O’Connell effect and the existence of superflares indicate that the secondary should have strong magnetic activities. It is discovered that the O − C curve shows a sinusoidal variation with a period of 129.88 yr. This cyclic change might be caused by the effects of the light travel time as a result of the presence of a cool red dwarf third body. The correlations between the changes of the O − C diagrams and the variable O’Connell effect during TESS observations might be caused by the magnetic activity of the secondary (i.e. the Applegate mechanism). After removal of the binary model, a total of 252 pulsation frequencies are detected from the high-precision photometric data of TESS, including 28 multiplets of tidally split frequencies. We identify two radial modes, 21 non-radial p-modes and three non-radial f-modes from the possible independent frequencies. All of these features reveal that HL Dra is a very interesting system for further investigations of binary formation and evolution, and for tidal interactions on stellar pulsations and on magnetic activities.

—We present the study of the multiple system HD 52721 by means of speckle interferometry in 2019–2020 at the 6-m telescope of the SAO RAS. Formerly, HD 52721 was known as triple ( $$6.93$$ (B2V + B2V; $$P = {{1}^{{\text{d}}}}.6101570$$ ) + $$7.88$$ ; $$0_{.}^{'}65$$ ). In our work, the system is resolved as a speckle interferometric triple system, i.e., the total system multiplicity increased up to four components ( $$6.80$$ (B2Ve; $${{1}^{{\text{d}}}}.6101570$$ )+ $$8.95$$ (B9VХ, $$0_{.}^{{''}}03$$ ); $$0_{.}^{{''}}64$$ ). We have used the reference-dependent and reference-independent methods for measuring positional parameters and magnitude differences between the components. The obtained measurements of the brightness differences agree with the observed light curve of the eclipsing pair.

I explore a triple-star scenario where a tight neutron star (NS) - NS binary system enters the envelope of a red supergiant (RSG) star and spirals-in towards its core. The two NSs accrete mass through accretion disks and launch jets that power a very luminous and long transient event, a common envelope jets supernova (CEJSN) event. Dynamical friction brings the two NSs to merge either in the RSG envelope or core. The total energy of the event, radiation and kinetic, is >10^{52}erg. The light curve stays luminous for months to years and a signal of gravitational waves might be detected. The ejecta contains freshly synthesized r-process elements not only from the NS-NS merger as in kilonova events, but possibly also from the pre-merger jets that the NSs launch inside the core, as in the r-process CEJSN scenario. This scenario shortens the time to NS-NS merger compared with that of kilonovae, and might somewhat ease the problem of the NS-NS r-process scenario to account for r-process nucleosynthesis in the early Universe. I estimate the ratio of NS-NS merger in CEJSN events to core collapse supernova (CCSN) events to be, Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

We performed the first light curve analysis of GW Leo and a new ephemeris is obtained for QT Boo. The light curve investigation also yields that the system GW Leo is a contact W UMa eclipsing binary with a photometric mass ratio of q = 0.44 ± 0.03, a fillout factor of f = 59.6%, and an inclination of 50.77° ± 0.09°. Due to the O’Connell effect which is known as asymmetries in the light curves’ maxima, a cold spot is employed along with the solution. The photometric and physical parameters of GW Leo were determined (e.g., Mh = 1.373 ± 0.024, Mc = 0.604 ± 0.027, Rh = 1.261 ± 0.041, Rc = 0.909 ± 0.039, and a( $${{R}_{ \odot }}$$ ) = 2.553 ± 0.004). According to the light curve solution results, we suggest that GW Leo is an A-type W UMa binary system. We also calculate the distance of GW Leo from the distance modulus formula as 483.5 ± 41 pc, which is in a good agreement to the quantity measured by the Gaia EDR3 using the binary systems' parallax. Moreover, the positions of their components on the H–R diagram are represented.