Search Publications

The connection between globular cluster systems and their host galaxy and environment: a case study of the isolated elliptical NGC 821
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.12823.x Bibcode: 2008MNRAS.385..361S

Spitler, Lee R.; Forbes, Duncan A.; Brodie, Jean P. +2 more

In an effort to probe the globular cluster (GC) system of an isolated elliptical galaxy, a comprehensive analysis of the NGC 821 GC system was performed. New imaging from the WIYN Mini-Mosaic imager, supplemented with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFPC2 images reveals a GC system similar to those found in counterpart ellipticals located in high-den…

2008 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
eHST 65
The Puzzling White Dwarf Cooling Sequence in NGC 6791: A Simple Solution
DOI: 10.1086/589151 Bibcode: 2008ApJ...679L..29B

Salaris, M.; Anderson, J.; Milone, A. P. +4 more

In this Letter we demonstrate that the puzzling bright peak in the luminosity function of the white dwarf (WD) cooling sequence of NGC 6791 can be naturally accounted for if ~34% of the observed WDs are WD+WD binary systems.

Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, whic…

2008 The Astrophysical Journal
eHST 65
Decomposition of the Host Galaxies of Active Galactic Nuclei Using Hubble Space Telescope Images
DOI: 10.1086/591796 Bibcode: 2008ApJS..179..283K

Ho, Luis C.; Barth, Aaron J.; Im, Myungshin +2 more

Investigating the link between supermassive black hole and galaxy evolution requires careful measurements of the properties of the host galaxies. We perform simulations to test the reliability of a two-dimensional image-fitting technique to decompose the host galaxy and the active galactic nucleus (AGN), especially on images obtained using cameras…

2008 The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
eHST 65
Timing the Nearby Isolated Neutron Star RX J1856.5-3754
DOI: 10.1086/528796 Bibcode: 2008ApJ...673L.163V

van Kerkwijk, M. H.; Kaplan, D. L.

RX J1856.5-3754 is the X-ray brightest among the nearby isolated neutron stars. Its X-ray spectrum is thermal, and is reproduced remarkably well by a blackbody, but its interpretation has remained puzzling. One reason is that the source did not exhibit pulsations, and hence a magnetic field strength—vital input to atmosphere models—could not be es…

2008 The Astrophysical Journal
XMM-Newton 65
Star Formation in the H I Bridge Between M81 and M82
DOI: 10.1088/0004-6256/135/2/548 Bibcode: 2008AJ....135..548D

Sabbi, E.; Gallagher, J. S.; Smith, L. J. +3 more

We present multiwavelength observations of stellar features in the H I tidal bridge connecting M81 and M82 in the region called Arp's loop. We identify eight young star-forming regions from Galaxy Evolution Explorer ultraviolet (UV) observations. Four of these objects are also detected at Hα. We determine the basic star-formation history of Arp's …

2008 The Astronomical Journal
eHST 65
The depth of the convective boundary layer on Mars
DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2008.07.003 Bibcode: 2008Icar..198...57H

Pätzold, M.; Hinson, D. P.; Häusler, B. +2 more

We are using observations obtained with Mars Express to explore the structure and dynamics of the martian lower atmosphere. We consider a series of radio occultation experiments conducted in May-August 2004, when the season on Mars was midspring of the northern hemisphere. The measurements are widely distributed in latitude and longitude, but the …

2008 Icarus
MEx 65
Galaxy Mergers at z gtrsim 1 in the HUDF: Evidence for a Peak in the Major Merger Rate of Massive Galaxies
DOI: 10.1086/527463 Bibcode: 2008ApJ...678..751R

Ryan, R. E., Jr.; Windhorst, R. A.; Silk, J. +1 more

We present a measurement of the galaxy merger fraction and number density from observations in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) for 0.5 <= z <= 2.5. We fit the combination of broadband data and slitless spectroscopy of 1308 galaxies with stellar population synthesis models to select merging systems based on a stellar mass of >=1010…

2008 The Astrophysical Journal
eHST 65
Asteroids 2867 Steins and 21 Lutetia: surface composition from far infrared observations with the Spitzer space telescope
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20078085 Bibcode: 2008A&A...477..665B

Jorda, L.; Lamy, P. L.; Barucci, M. A. +8 more

Aims:The aim of this paper is to investigate the surface composition of the two asteroids 21 Lutetia and 2867 Steins, targets of the Rosetta space mission.
Methods: We observed the two asteroids through their full rotational periods with the Infrared Spectrograph of the Spitzer Space Telescope to investigate the surface properties. The analysi…

2008 Astronomy and Astrophysics
Rosetta 65
Thermal convection in ice-I shells of Titan and Enceladus
DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2007.07.016 Bibcode: 2008Icar..193..387M

Showman, Adam P.; Mitri, Giuseppe

Cassini-Huygens observations have shown that Titan and Enceladus are geologically active icy satellites. Mitri and Showman [Mitri, G., Showman, A.P., 2005. Icarus 177, 447-460] and McKinnon [McKinnon, W.B., 2006. Icarus 183, 435-450] investigated the dynamics of an ice shell overlying a pure liquid-water ocean and showed that transitions from a co…

2008 Icarus
Cassini 65
X-Ray Observations of Parsec-scale Tails behind Two Middle-Aged Pulsars
DOI: 10.1086/589145 Bibcode: 2008ApJ...684..542K

Garmire, G. P.; Pavlov, G. G.; Kargaltsev, O. +2 more

Chandra and XMM-Newton resolved extremely long tails behind two middle-aged pulsars, J1509-5850 and J1740+1000. The tail of PSR J1509-5850 is discernible up to 5.6' from the pulsar, which corresponds to the projected length l = 6.5d4 pc, where d = 4d4 kpc is the distance to the pulsar. The observed tail flux is 2 …

2008 The Astrophysical Journal
XMM-Newton 65