Search Publications

The nature of VX Sagitarii. Is it a TŻO, a RSG, or a high-mass AGB star?
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202039236 Bibcode: 2021A&A...646A..98T

Negueruela, I.; Tabernero, H. M.; Dorda, R. +1 more


Aims: We present a spectroscopic analysis of the extremely luminous red star VX Sgr based on high-resolution observations combined with AAVSO light curve data. Given the puzzling characteristics of VX Sgr, we explore three scenarios for its nature: a massive red supergiant (RSG) or red hypergiant (RHG), a Thorne Żytkow object, and an extreme …

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gaia 28
Stellar clustering and orbital architecture of planetary systems
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202040201 Bibcode: 2021A&A...649A.111A

Adibekyan, V.; Sousa, S. G.; Barros, S. C. C. +9 more

Context. Revealing the mechanisms shaping the architecture of planetary systems is crucial for our understanding of their formation and evolution. In this context, it has been recently proposed that stellar clustering might be the key in shaping the orbital architecture of exoplanets.
Aims: The main goal of this work is to explore the factors…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gaia 28
Photometric selection and redshifts for quasars in the Kilo-Degree Survey Data Release 4
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202039684 Bibcode: 2021A&A...649A..81N

Heymans, C.; Hildebrandt, H.; Erben, T. +10 more

We present a catalog of quasars with their corresponding redshifts derived from the photometric Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) Data Release 4. We achieved it by training machine learning (ML) models, using optical ugri and near-infrared ZYJHKs bands, on objects known from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopy. We define inference subs…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gaia 28
MPS-ATLAS: A fast all-in-one code for synthesising stellar spectra
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202140275 Bibcode: 2021A&A...653A..65W

Solanki, S. K.; Shapiro, A. I.; Tagirov, R. V. +6 more

Context. Stellar spectral synthesis is essential for various applications, ranging from determining stellar parameters to comprehensive stellar variability calculations. New observational resources as well as advanced stellar atmosphere modelling, taking three dimensional effects from radiative magnetohydrodynamics calculations into account, requi…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
IUE 28
Seasonal reappearance of HCl in the atmosphere of Mars during the Mars year 35 dusty season
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202140329 Bibcode: 2021A&A...647A.161O

Forget, F.; Montmessin, F.; Irwin, P. G. J. +15 more

Hydrogen chloride was discovered in the atmosphere of Mars for the first time during the global dust storm in Mars year (MY) 34 (July 2018) using the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite mid-infrared channel (ACS MIR) on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The simultaneity of variations in dust and HCl, and a correlation between water vapour and HCl, led to the…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
ExoMars-16 28
Molecular mapping of the PDS70 system. No molecular absorption signatures from the forming planet PDS70 b
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202140632 Bibcode: 2021A&A...653A..12C

Quanz, S. P.; Snellen, I. A. G.; Stolker, T. +7 more

Context. Determining the chemical properties of the atmosphere of young forming gas giants might shed light on the location their formation occurred and the mechanisms involved.
Aims: Our aim was to detect molecules in the atmosphere of the young forming companion PDS70 b by searching for atmospheric absorption features typical of substellar …

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gaia 28
The star cluster age function in the Galactic disc with Gaia DR2. Fewer old clusters and a low cluster formation efficiency
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202038532 Bibcode: 2021A&A...645L...2A

Cantat-Gaudin, Tristan; Gieles, Mark; Anders, Friedrich +4 more

We perform a systematic reanalysis of the age distribution of Galactic open star clusters. Using a catalogue of homogeneously determined ages for 834 open clusters contained in a 2 kpc cylinder around the Sun and characterised with astrometric and photometric data from the Gaia satellite, we find that it is necessary to revise earlier works that r…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gaia 28
Spectroscopic study of CEMP-(s & r/s) stars. Revisiting classification criteria and formation scenarios, highlighting i-process nucleosynthesis
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202038258 Bibcode: 2021A&A...649A..49G

Goswami, Aruna; Goswami, Partha Pratim; Rathour, Rajeev Singh

Context. The origin of the enhanced abundances of both s- and r-process elements observed in a subclass of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars, denoted CEMP-r/s stars, still remains poorly understood. The i-process nucleosynthesis has been suggested as one of the most promising mechanisms for the origin of these stars.
Aims: Our aim is to…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gaia 27
Day-night differences in Mars methane suggest nighttime containment at Gale crater
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202040030 Bibcode: 2021A&A...650A.166W

Atreya, Sushil K.; Vasavada, Ashwin R.; Moores, John E. +10 more

We report new measurements of atmospheric methane by the Curiosity rover's Tunable Laser Spectrometer that is part of the Sample Analysis at Mars suite (TLS-SAM), finding nondetections during two daytime measurements of average value 0.05 ± 0.22 ppbv (95% confidence interval CI). These are in marked contrast with nighttime background levels of 0.5…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
ExoMars-16 27
Refined physical parameters for Chariklo's body and rings from stellar occultations observed between 2013 and 2020
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202141543 Bibcode: 2021A&A...652A.141M

Colas, F.; Bérard, D.; Snodgrass, C. +78 more

Context. The Centaur (10199) Chariklo has the first ring system discovered around a small object. It was first observed using stellar occultation in 2013. Stellar occultations allow sizes and shapes to be determined with kilometre accuracy, and provide the characteristics of the occulting object and its vicinity.
Aims: Using stellar occultati…

2021 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gaia 27