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The Double Active Galactic Nucleus in NGC 6240 Revealed through 3-5 μm Spectroscopy
We present 3-5 μm spectroscopy of the interacting system NGC 6240,revealing the presence of two active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Thebrightest (southern) nucleus shows up with a starburst-like emission,with a prominent 3.3 μm emission feature. However, the presence of anAGN is revealed by the detection of a broad Brα emission line,with a width of ~1800 km s-1. The spectrum of the faintest(northern) nucleus shows typical AGN features, such as a steep continuumand broad absorption features in the M band. We discuss the physicalproperties of the dusty absorbers/emitters, and we show that in bothnuclei, the AGN is dominant in the 3-5 μm band but that itscontribution to the total luminosity is small (a few percent of thestarburst emission).Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory,Chile (proposal 73.B-0574).

A high-resolution spectroscopy survey of β Cephei pulsations in bright stars
We present a study of absorption line-profile variations in early-B typenear-main-sequence stars without emission lines. We have surveyed atotal of 171 bright stars using the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOTSA),William Herschel Telescope (ING) and Coudé Auxiliary Telescope(ESO). Our sample contains 75% of all O9.5-B2.5 III-V non-emission-linestars brighter than 5.5 mag. We obtained high signal-to-noise,high-resolution spectra of the SiIII λ4560 triplet - for 125stars of our sample we obtained more than one spectrum - and examinedthese for pulsational-like line-profile variations and/or structure. Weconclude that about half of our sample stars show evidence forline-profile variations (LPV). We find evidence for LPV in about 65% ofour sample stars brighter than V=5.5. For stars with rotationalbroadening V sin i ˜100 km s-1, we find evidence for LPVin about 75% of the cases. We argue that it is likely that these LPV areof pulsational origin, and that hence more than half of thesolar-neighbourhood O9.5-B2.5 III-V stars is pulsating in modes that canbe detected with high-resolution spectroscopy. We detected LPV in 64stars previously unknown to be pulsators, and label these stars as newβ Cep candidates. We conclude that there is no obvious differencein incidence of (pulsational) LPV for early-B type near-main-sequencestars in binaries or in OB associations, with respect to single fieldstars.

Radial velocity measurements of B stars in the Scorpius-Centaurus association
We derive single-epoch radial velocities for a sample of 56 B-type starsmembers of the subgroups Upper Scorpius, Upper Centaurus Lupus and LowerCentaurus Crux of the nearby Sco-Cen OB association. The radial velocitymeasurements were obtained by means of high-resolution echelle spectravia analysis of individual lines. The internal accuracy obtained in themeasurements is estimated to be typically 2-3 km s-1, butdepends on the projected rotational velocity of the target. Radialvelocity measurements taken for 2-3 epochs for the targets HD 120307, HD142990 and HD 139365 are variable and confirm that they arespectroscopic binaries, as previously identified in the literature.Spectral lines from two stellar components are resolved in the observedspectra of target stars HD 133242, HD 133955 and HD 143018, identifyingthem as spectroscopic binaries.

Determining the Physical Properties of the B Stars. II. Calibration of Synthetic Photometry
We present a new calibration of optical (UBV, Strömgren uvbyβ,and Geneva) and near-IR (Johnson RIJHK and Two Micron All Sky Survey)photometry for B and early A stars derived from Kurucz ATLAS9 modelatmospheres. Our sample of stars consists of 45 normal nearby B andearly A stars that have high-quality, low-resolution IUE spectra andaccurate Hipparcos parallaxes. The calibration is unique because itrelies only on the UV spectral energy distributions, the absolute fluxcalibration of the V filter, and the Hipparcos distances to determinethe appropriate model atmospheres for the program stars. These modelsare then used to calibrate the synthetic photometry. We compare ourresults with previous well-accepted results and provide a thoroughdiscussion of the random errors and systematic effects affecting thecalibration. In particular, we demonstrate the influence of vsini onsurface gravities derived from fitting model atmospheres. Finally, wediscuss some of our intended applications of this new calibration.

VLT L-band mapping of the Galactic center IRS 3-IRS 13 region. Evidence for new Wolf-Rayet type stars
This paper presents L-band ISAAC and NAOS/CONICA (VLT) spectroscopicobservations of the IRS 3-IRS 13 Galactic Center region. The ISAAC dataallowed us to build the first spectroscopic data cube of the region inthe L-band domain. Using the L-band spectrum of the extinction along theline of sight towards the GC derived in a previous paper (Moultaka etal. 2004, A&A, 425, 529), it was also possible to correct the cubefor the foreground extinction. Maps of the water ice and hydrocarbonabsorption line strength were then derived. These maps are importantdiagnostics of the interstellar and circumstellar medium because waterices are observed in molecular clouds while hydrocarbons are usuallygood tracers of the diffuse ISM. These maps support our previous resultsthat the absorption features most probably occur in the local Galacticcenter medium and can be associated with the individual sources.Moreover, turbulence seems to affect the studied region of theminispiral, which appears like a mixture of a dense and diffuse medium.Comparison of the concentrations of ice and hydrocarbon absorptionsaround IRS 13E, IRS 6E, and IRS 2, with similar concentrations at thelocation of the extended continuum emission around IRS 3, suggests thatthese sources might present outflows interacting with the surroundingISM. It was also possible to derive Brα and Pfγ emissionline maps. The results suggest that the physical conditions of the ISMare not uniform in the observed region of the minispiral especially atthe edges of the minicavity. The emission line maps allowed us to findthree sources with broad lines corresponding to an FWHM deconvolved linewidth of about 1100 km s-1 and moving towards us with aradial velocity of about -300 km s-1. These sources are mostprobably new Wolf-Rayet type stars located in projection to the northand west of IRS 3. Their derived radial velocities and proper motionsshow that only two of them might belong to the two rotating disks ofyoung stars reported by Genzel et al. (2003, ApJ, 594, 812) and Levin& Beloborodov (2003, ApJ, 590, L33). Previously, NAOS/CONICA (NACO)data allowed us to resolve the IRS13E3 region into two components E3N,and E3c (Eckart et al. 2004, ApJ, 602, 760). The new spectroscopic NACOdata show that E3c is a good candidate for a Wolf-Rayet type star. Inaddition, three sources (η, ζ, and γ) out of the eightvery red sources located in the IRS13N complex also presented in Eckartet al. (2004, ApJ, 602, 760) have been resolved spectroscopically withNACO. The spectra presented in this paper show that the red colors ofthe sources are probably due to extended dust emission.

L- and M-band imaging observations of the Galactic Center region
In this paper we present near-infrared H-, K-, L- and M-band photometryof the Galactic Center from images obtained at the ESO VLT in May andAugust 2002, using the NAOS/CONICA (H and K) and the ISAAC (L and M)instruments. The large field of view (70´´ ×70´´) of the ISAAC instrument and the large number ofsources identified (L-M data for a total of 541 sources) allows us toinvestigate their colors, infrared excesses and the extended dustemission. Our new L-band magnitude calibration reveals an importantoffset to the traditionally used “standard” calibrations,which we attribute to the use of the variable star IRS 7 as a fluxcalibrator. Together with new results on the extinction towards theGalactic Center [CITE], our magnitude calibration results in stellarcolor properties expected from standard stars and removes any necessityto modify the K-band extinction. The large number of sources for whichwe have obtained L-M colors allows us to measure the M-band extinctionto AM = (0.056 ± 0.006)A_V, i.e. A_M≈ A_L, aconsiderably higher value than what has so far been assumed. L-M colordata has not been investigated previously, due to lack of useful M-banddata. We find that this color is a useful diagnostic tool for thepreliminary identification of stellar types, since hot and cool starsshow a fairly clear L-M color separation, with average L-M colors of0.46 ± 0.17 for emission-line stars and -0.05 ± 0.27 forcool red giants/AGB stars. This is especially important if visual colorsare not available, as in the Galactic Center. For one of the mostprominent dust embedded sources, IRS 3, we find extended L- and M-bandcontinuum emission with a characteristic bow-shock shape. An explanationfor this unusual appearance is that IRS 3 consists of a massive, hot,young mass-losing star surrounded by an optically thick, extended dustshell, which is pushed northwest by wind from the direction of the IRS16 cluster and Sgr A*.Tables 1 and 2 are only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/433/117.Based on observing run 69.B-0101(A) at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) ofthe European Southern Observatory (ESO) on Paranal in Chile.

Formation scenarios for the young stellar associations between galactic longitudes l = 280degr - 360degr
We investigate the spatial distribution, the space velocities and agedistribution of the pre-main sequence (PMS) stars belonging toOphiuchus, Lupus and Chamaeleon star-forming regions (SFRs), and of theyoung early-type star members of the Scorpius-Centaurus OB association.These young stellar associations extend over the galactic longituderange from 280degr to 360degr , and are at a distance interval ofaround 100 and 200 pc. This study is based on a compilation ofdistances, proper motions and radial velocities from the literature forthe kinematic properties, and of basic stellar data for the constructionof Hertzsprung-Russel diagrams. Although there was no well-known OBassociation in Chamaeleon, the distances and the proper motions of agroup of 21 B- and A-type stars, taken from the Hipparcos Catalogue,lead us to propose that they form a young association. We show that theyoung early-type stars of the OB associations and the PMS stars of theSFRs follow a similar spatial distribution, i.e., there is no separationbetween the low and the high-mass young stars. We find no difference inthe kinematics nor in the ages of these two populations studied.Considering not only the stars selected by kinematic criteria but thewhole sample of young early-type stars, the scattering of their propermotions is similar to that of the PMS stars and all the young starsexhibit a common direction of motion. The space velocities of theHipparcos PMS stars of each SFR are compatible with the mean values ofthe OB associations. The PMS stars in each SFR span a wide range of ages(from 1 to 20 Myr). The ages of the OB subgroups are 8-10 Myr for UpperScorpius (US), and 16-20 Myr for Upper Centaurus Lupus (UCL) and forLower Centaurus Crux (LCC). Thus, our results do not confirm that UCL isolder than the LCC association. Based on these results and theuncertainties associated with the age determination, we cannot say thatthere is indeed a difference in the age of the two populations. Weanalyze the different scenarios for the triggering of large-scalestar-formation that have been proposed up to now, and argue that mostprobably we are observing a spiral arm that passes close to the Sun. Thealignment of young stars and molecular clouds and the average velocityof the stars in the opposite direction to the Galactic rotation agreewith the expected behavior of star formation in nearby spiral arms.Tables 1 to 4 are only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/404/913

Near IR spectroscopy of active galactic nuclei
Using the VLT together with the near infrared instrument ISAAC, we haveobtained medium spectral and high spatial resolution observations of asample of nearby Seyfert galaxies in the H-band. This band isparticularly suited for stellar population studies since the stellarcomponent dominates over the AGN nucleus. The H-band also includes thepeak contribution from cool stars. The AGN spectra are very rich instrong metallic lines which are sensitive to stellar luminosity class.For 4 out of 5 galaxies the central velocity dispersions are found to besignificantly lower than reported in previous studies. Gradients in thestellar population within the central regions were searched for,together with evidence for dilution of the stellar spectral featureswithin the nucleus. Based on observations collected at the Very LargeTelescope (UT1) of the European Southern Observatory, Paranal, Chile,ESO NO 63.A-0366.

The mass ratio distribution of B-type visual binaries in the Sco OB2 association
A sample of 115 B-type stars in the Sco OB2 association is examined forexistence of visual companions in the J and K_s bands, using the ADONISnear-infrared adaptive optics system and coronograph. Practically allthe components in the separation range 0farcs3 -6farcs4 (45-900 AU) andmagnitudes down to K = 16 were detected. The K and J - K photometry ofthe primaries and differential photometry and astrometry of the 96secondaries are presented. Ten secondaries are new physical components,as inferred from the photometric and statistical criteria, while therest of the newly detected objects are faint background stars. After asmall correction for detection incompleteness and a conversion of thefluxes into masses, an unbiased distribution of the components massratio q was derived. The power law f(q)~ q-0.5 fits theobservations well, whereas a q-1.8 distribution, whichcorresponds to a random pairing of stars, is rejected. The companionstar fraction is 0.20+/-0.04 per decade of separation which iscomparable to the highest measured binary fraction among low-mass PMSstars and ~ 1.6 times higher than the binary fraction of low-mass dwarfsin the solar neighborhood and in open clusters in the same separationrange. Based on observations collected at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla, Chile (ESO programme 65.H-0179). Tables 1, 3 andthe full version of Table 2 are only available in electronic form at theCDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/382/92

Astrometric radial velocities. III. Hipparcos measurements of nearby star clusters and associations
Radial motions of stars in nearby moving clusters are determined fromaccurate proper motions and trigonometric parallaxes, without any use ofspectroscopy. Assuming that cluster members share the same velocityvector (apart from a random dispersion), we apply a maximum-likelihoodmethod on astrometric data from Hipparcos to compute radial and spacevelocities (and their dispersions) in the Ursa Major, Hyades, ComaBerenices, Pleiades, and Praesepe clusters, and for theScorpius-Centaurus, alpha Persei, and ``HIP 98321'' associations. Theradial motion of the Hyades cluster is determined to within 0.4 kms-1 (standard error), and that of its individual stars towithin 0.6 km s-1. For other clusters, Hipparcos data yieldastrometric radial velocities with typical accuracies of a few kms-1. A comparison of these astrometric values withspectroscopic radial velocities in the literature shows a good generalagreement and, in the case of the best-determined Hyades cluster, alsopermits searches for subtle astrophysical differences, such as evidencefor enhanced convective blueshifts of F-dwarf spectra, and decreasedgravitational redshifts in giants. Similar comparisons for the ScorpiusOB2 complex indicate some expansion of its associations, albeit slowerthan expected from their ages. As a by-product from the radial-velocitysolutions, kinematically improved parallaxes for individual stars areobtained, enabling Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams with unprecedentedaccuracy in luminosity. For the Hyades (parallax accuracy 0.3 mas), itsmain sequence resembles a thin line, possibly with wiggles in it.Although this main sequence has underpopulated regions at certaincolours (previously suggested to be ``Böhm-Vitense gaps''), suchare not visible for other clusters, and are probably spurious. Futurespace astrometry missions carry a great potential for absoluteradial-velocity determinations, insensitive to the complexities ofstellar spectra. Based on observations by the ESA Hipparcos satellite.Extended versions of Tables \ref{tab1} and \ref{tab2} are available inelectronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr(130.79.125.8) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/381/446

Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statistics
The Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521

Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part III. Additional fundamental stars with direct solutions
The FK6 is a suitable combination of the results of the HIPPARCOSastrometry satellite with ground-based data, measured over a longinterval of time and summarized mainly in the FK5. Part III of the FK6(abbreviated FK6(III)) contains additional fundamental stars with directsolutions. Such direct solutions are appropriate for single stars or forobjects which can be treated like single stars. Part III of the FK6contains in total 3272 stars. Their ground-based data stem from thebright extension of the FK5 (735 stars), from the catalogue of remainingSup stars (RSup, 732 stars), and from the faint extension of the FK5(1805 stars). From the 3272 stars in Part III, we have selected 1928objects as "astrometrically excellent stars", since their instantaneousproper motions and their mean (time-averaged) ones do not differsignificantly. Hence most of the astrometrically excellent stars arewell-behaving "single-star candidates" with good astrometric data. Thesestars are most suited for high-precision astrometry. On the other hand,354 of the stars in Part III are Δμ binaries in the sense ofWielen et al. (1999). Many of them are newly discovered probablebinaries with no other hitherto known indication of binarity. The FK6gives, besides the classical "single-star mode" solutions (SI mode),other solutions which take into account the fact that hidden astrometricbinaries among "apparently single-stars" introduce sizable "cosmicerrors" into the quasi-instantaneously measured HIPPARCOS proper motionsand positions. The FK6 gives, in addition to the SI mode, the "long-termprediction (LTP) mode" and the "short-term prediction (STP) mode". TheseLTP and STP modes are on average the most precise solutions forapparently single stars, depending on the epoch difference with respectto the HIPPARCOS epoch of about 1991. The typical mean error of anFK6(III) proper motion in the single-star mode is 0.59 mas/year. This isa factor of 1.34 better than the typical HIPPARCOS errors for thesestars of 0.79 mas/year. In the long-term prediction mode, in whichcosmic errors are taken into account, the FK6(III) proper motions have atypical mean error of 0.93 mas/year, which is by a factor of about 2better than the corresponding error for the HIPPARCOS values of 1.83mas/year (cosmic errors included).

The Second Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Right Angle Program Catalog
We present the detection of 235 extreme ultraviolet sources, of which169 are new detections, using the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer's (EUVE)Right Angle Program (RAP) data. This catalog includes observations sincethe first EUVE RAP catalog (1994 January) and covers 17% of the sky. TheEUVE RAP uses the all-sky survey telescopes (also known as``scanners''), mounted at right angles to the Deep Survey andspectrometer instruments, to obtain photometric data in four wavelengthbands centered at ~100 Å (Lexan/B), ~200 Å (Al/Ti/C), ~400Å (Ti/Sb/Al), and ~550 Å (Sn/SiO). This allows the RAP toaccumulate data serendipitously during pointed spectroscopicobservations. The long exposure times possible with RAP observationsprovide much greater sensitivity than the all-sky survey. We presentEUVE source count rates and probable source identifications from theavailable catalogs and literature. The source distribution is similar toprevious extreme ultraviolet (EUV) catalogs with 2% early-type stars,45% late-type stars, 8% white dwarfs, 6% extragalactic, 24% with no firmclassification, and 15% with no optical identification. We also present36 detections of early-type stars that are probably the result ofnon-EUV radiation. We have detected stellar flares from approximately 12sources, including: EUVE J0008+208, M4 star G32-6 (EUVE J0016+198), anew source EUVE J0202+105, EUVE J0213+368, RS CVn V711 Tau (EUVEJ0336+005), BY Draconis type variable V837 Tau (EUVE J0336+259), the newK5 binary EUVE J0725-004, EUVE J1147+050, EUVE J1148-374, EUVE J1334-083(EQ Vir), EUVE J1438-432 (WT 486/487), EUVE J1808+297, and the M5.5estar G208-45 (EUVE J1953+444). We present sample light curves for thebrighter sources.

A HIPPARCOS Census of the Nearby OB Associations
A comprehensive census of the stellar content of the OB associationswithin 1 kpc from the Sun is presented, based on Hipparcos positions,proper motions, and parallaxes. It is a key part of a long-term projectto study the formation, structure, and evolution of nearby young stellargroups and related star-forming regions. OB associations are unbound``moving groups,'' which can be detected kinematically because of theirsmall internal velocity dispersion. The nearby associations have a largeextent on the sky, which traditionally has limited astrometricmembership determination to bright stars (V<~6 mag), with spectraltypes earlier than ~B5. The Hipparcos measurements allow a majorimprovement in this situation. Moving groups are identified in theHipparcos Catalog by combining de Bruijne's refurbished convergent pointmethod with the ``Spaghetti method'' of Hoogerwerf & Aguilar.Astrometric members are listed for 12 young stellar groups, out to adistance of ~650 pc. These are the three subgroups Upper Scorpius, UpperCentaurus Lupus, and Lower Centaurus Crux of Sco OB2, as well as VelOB2, Tr 10, Col 121, Per OB2, alpha Persei (Per OB3), Cas-Tau, Lac OB1,Cep OB2, and a new group in Cepheus, designated as Cep OB6. Theselection procedure corrects the list of previously known astrometricand photometric B- and A-type members in these groups and identifiesmany new members, including a significant number of F stars, as well asevolved stars, e.g., the Wolf-Rayet stars gamma^2 Vel (WR 11) in Vel OB2and EZ CMa (WR 6) in Col 121, and the classical Cepheid delta Cep in CepOB6. Membership probabilities are given for all selected stars. MonteCarlo simulations are used to estimate the expected number of interloperfield stars. In the nearest associations, notably in Sco OB2, thelater-type members include T Tauri objects and other stars in the finalpre-main-sequence phase. This provides a firm link between the classicalhigh-mass stellar content and ongoing low-mass star formation. Detailedstudies of these 12 groups, and their relation to the surroundinginterstellar medium, will be presented elsewhere. Astrometric evidencefor moving groups in the fields of R CrA, CMa OB1, Mon OB1, Ori OB1, CamOB1, Cep OB3, Cep OB4, Cyg OB4, Cyg OB7, and Sct OB2, is inconclusive.OB associations do exist in many of these regions, but they are eitherat distances beyond ~500 pc where the Hipparcos parallaxes are oflimited use, or they have unfavorable kinematics, so that the groupproper motion does not distinguish it from the field stars in theGalactic disk. The mean distances of the well-established groups aresystematically smaller than the pre-Hipparcos photometric estimates.While part of this may be caused by the improved membership lists, arecalibration of the upper main sequence in the Hertzsprung-Russelldiagram may be called for. The mean motions display a systematicpattern, which is discussed in relation to the Gould Belt. Six of the 12detected moving groups do not appear in the classical list of nearby OBassociations. This is sometimes caused by the absence of O stars, but inother cases a previously known open cluster turns out to be (part of) anextended OB association. The number of unbound young stellar groups inthe solar neighborhood may be significantly larger than thoughtpreviously.

Five-colour photometry of OB-stars in the Southern Hemisphere
Observations of OB-stars, made in 1959 and 1960 at the Leiden SouthernStation near Hartebeespoortdam, South Africa, with the VBLUW photometerattached to the 90 cm light-collector, are given in this paper. They arecompared with photometry obtained by \cite[Graham (1968),]{gra68}\cite[Walraven & Walraven (1977),]{wal77} \cite[Lub & Pel(1977)]{lub77} and \cite[Van Genderen et al. (1984).]{gen84} Formulaefor the transformation of the present observations to those of\cite[Walraven & Walraven (1977)]{wal77} and \cite[Lub & Pel(1977)]{lub77} are given. Table 4 is only available in electronic format the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) orvia http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html

Properties of He-rich stars. II. CNO abundances and projected rotational velocities
We present an abundance analysis of light elements in the most massivechemically peculiar (CP) stars, He-rich stars. The analysis is based onboth low and high-resolution observations collected at ESO, La Silla,Chile in the optical region and includes 6 standard and 21 He-richstars. Light element abundances display a diverse pattern fromunder-solar up to above-solar values. Carbon is found underabundant inthe hottest He-rich stars and normal in the coolest ones, according tothe LTE model predictions. The distribution of projected rotationalvelocities shows a significant excess of slow rotators, no He-rich starshaving vsin i > 130 km s(-1) . Based on observations collected at theEuropean Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile (programmes 7-043 and7-010 of periods 49 and 50 resp.)

Light element abundances in He-rich stars
We present an abundance analysis of light elements in He-rich stars. Theanalysis is based on both low and high resolution observations collectedat ESO, La Silla, Chile in the optical region and includes 6 standardsand 21 He-rich stars. Light-element abundances display a diversepattern: they range from under-solar up to above-solar values.

On the normal spectral energy distribution of stars: Spectral types O9-B5
The normal energy distributions for fifteen spectral subtypes from O9 toB5 for luminosity classes V, IV, and III are derived. Threephotometrically uniform catalogs served as the source of thespectrophotometric data used. Synthetic color indices for all spectraltypes are calculated using the energy distribution curves obtained.Comparison of these indices with the expected normal color indicessuggests that the energy distributions derived are reliable.

Properties of He-rich stars. I. Their evolutionary state and helium abundance.
A determination of the surface gravity and an abundance analysis ofhelium in a sample of 17 He-rich and 5 normal, reference stars ispresented. These results are derived from low resolution CCD spectra,but each star was measured at least 6 times in order to obtain asignificant average spectrum for the spectroscopic variables. The heliumabundances derived from the models used are very close to 0.1 fornormal, reference stars and are larger for the others, clearlyindicating the He-rich phenomenon in them. NLTE effects, errors on themicroturbulence value or on the surface gravity do not influence theestimated helium abundances. Nevertheless, synthesized Geneva coloursare affected by the He-rich peculiarity, especially the [U-B] indexwhich systematically changes by -0.025 mag per 0.1 of He abundance forthe coolest stars in the sample. We cannot confirm the correlationbetween the evolutionary state and the helium abundance reportedpreviously (Zboril et al. 1994, International Conference on CP andMagnetic Stars.", Tatranska Lomnica, eds. J. Zverko and J. Ziznovsky, p.105), although we used a more reliable technique of log(g)determination. All He-rich objects lie within the main sequence: theirsurface gravities are all inside the range 4.1

Behaviour of the HeI 587.6, 667.8, 706.5 and 728.1nm lines in B-type stars. On the helium stratification in the atmosphere of magnetic helium peculiar stars.
High resolution spectra of the HeI587.6, 667.8 706.5 and 728.1nm lineshave been obtained to test the prediction (notably by Vauclair et al.1991) that helium abundance should decrease with depth in helium richstars and increase in helium weak stars. A sample of B-type mainsequence stars, with expected solar abundances and non stratifiedatmospheres, have also been observed in order to compare the behaviourof the selected lines with the chemically peculiar case and with theory.We found significant discrepancies with theory for the lines HeI 706.5.and 728.1nm, and, in order to outline differences between 'normal' and'peculiar' stars, we have adopted an empirical correction to the Lorentzbroadening parameter in the Voigt profile, under the assumption of LTE.This parameter is derived from the imposition of a satisfactory fit withobservations for the relation equivalent width vs. effective temperaturefor normal B stars. For helium rich stars we confirm Vauclair et al.(1991) predictions that helium abundance decreases with depth. However,we found that helium abundance decreases with depth in helium weak starstoo, which contradicts Vauclair et al. (1991) predictions. For somepeculiar stars, the inferred helium abundance is in disagreement withthe peculiarity class reported in the General Catalogue of Ap and Amstars (Renson et al. 1991).

High S/N Echelle spectroscopy in young stellar groups. II. Rotational velocities of early-type stars in SCO OB2.
We investigate the rotational velocities of early-type stars in the ScoOB2 association. We measure v.sin(i) for 156 established and probablemembers of the association. The measurements are performed with threedifferent techniques, which are in increasing order of expectedv.sin(i): 1) converting the widths of spectral lines directly tov.sin(i), 2) comparing artificially broadened spectra of low v.sin(i)stars to the target spectrum, 3) comparing the HeI λ4026 lineprofile to theoretical models. The sample is extended with literaturedata for 47 established members of Sco OB2. Analysis of the v.sin(i)distributions shows that there are no significant differences betweenthe subgroups of Sco OB2. We find that members of the binary populationof Sco OB2 on the whole rotate more slowly than the single stars. Inaddition, we find that the B7-B9 single star members rotatesignificantly faster than their B0-B6 counterparts. We test varioushypotheses for the distribution of v.sin(i) in the association. Theresults show that we cannot clearly exclude any form of randomdistribution of the direction and/or magnitude of the intrinsicrotational velocity vector. We also investigate the effects of rotationon colours in the Walraven photometric system. We show that positions ofB7-B9 single dwarfs above the main sequence are a consequence ofrotation. This establishes the influence of rotation on the Walravencolours, due primarily to surface gravity effects.

The Pulkovo Spectrophotometric Catalog of Bright Stars in the Range from 320 TO 1080 NM
A spectrophotometric catalog is presented, combining results of numerousobservations made by Pulkovo astronomers at different observing sites.The catalog consists of three parts: the first contains the data for 602stars in the spectral range of 320--735 nm with a resolution of 5 nm,the second one contains 285 stars in the spectral range of 500--1080 nmwith a resolution of 10 nm and the third one contains 278 stars combinedfrom the preceding catalogs in the spectral range of 320--1080 nm with aresolution of 10 nm. The data are presented in absolute energy unitsW/m(2) m, with a step of 2.5 nm and with an accuracy not lower than1.5--2.0%.

The ROSAT all-sky survey catalogue of optically bright OB-type stars.
For the detailed statistical analysis of the X-ray emission of hot starswe selected all stars of spectral type O and B listed in the Yale BrightStar Catalogue and searched for them in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. Inthis paper we describe the selection and preparation of the data andpresent a compilation of the derived X-ray data for a complete sample ofbright OB stars.

Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.

The determination of T_eff_ of B, A and F main sequence stars from the continuum between 3200 A and 3600 A.
A method of determination of the effective temperature of B, A and Fmain sequence stars is proposed, using the slope of the continuumbetween 3200A and 3600A. The effective temperature calibration is basedon a sample of stars with energy distributions known from UV to the red.We have determined the Balmer jump and the effective temperatures for235 main sequence stars. The temperatures found have been compared withthose derived by Underhill et al. (1979), Kontizas & Theodossiou(1980), Theodossiou (1985), Morossi & Malagnini (1985). Thecomparison showed good agreement for most of the stars in common. On theother hand, the temperatures derived from the reddening-free colourfactor QUV, from the colour index (m1965-V) and from (B-V), given inGulati et al. (1989), are systematically lower than our temperatures,however the differences are within one-sigma error.

The MSSSO near-infrared photometric system
The JHKL photometric system currently used at the Mount Stromlo andSiding Spring Observatories (MSSSO) is described via an extensive listof standard-star values and filter transmission curves. At JHK thissystem is identical to the Mount Stromlo Observatory (MSO) systemdefined by Jones and Hyland (1982), except for small zero-pointdifferences which we impose here. Transformations are given between theMSSSO system and several near-infrared photometric systems in use inother observatories and the homogenized JHKL system proposed by Besselland Brett (1988).

An IUE survey of interstellar H I LY alpha absorption. 1: Column densities
We measure Galactic interstellar neutral hydrogen column densities byanalyzing archival interstellar Ly alpha absorption line data toward 554B2 and hotter stars observed at high resolution with the IUE satellite.This study more than doubles the number of lines of sight with measuresof N(H I) based on Ly alpha. We have included the scattered lightbackground correction algorithm of Bianchi and Bohlin in our datareduction. We use the correlation between the Balmer discontinuity(c1) index and the stellar Ly alpha absorption in order toassess the effects of stellar Ly alpha contamination. Approximately 40%of the B stars with measured (c1) index, exhibit seriousstellar Ly alpha contamination. One table contains the derived values ofthe interstellar N(H I) for 393 stars with at most small amounts ofstellar contamination. Another lists the observed values of total N(H I)for 161 stars with suspected stellar Ly alpha contamination and/oruncertain stellar parameters.

Improved Mean Positions and Proper Motions for the 995 FK4 Sup Stars not Included in the FK5 Extension
Not Available

Rotational velocity of Be stars correlated with extinction law
The paper presents the comparison of the extinction curves extractedfrom spectra of 35 Be stars. It is suggested that high rotationalvelocity relates to 'peculiar' shape of extinction curve i.e., the lackof the 2200 A bump. This phenomenon occurs only if the total reddeningis not very high. We assume that such extinction curves originate solelyin circumstellar disks surrounding the high rotational velocity stars.Other objects are probably also obscured by some additional interstellarclouds.

Distribution and studies of the infrared stellar population in the Galaxy. V - Other clear regions around the Galactic centre
A number of stars with K less than or equal to +9.0 in three clearregions located at latitudes of approximately -3.5, -4.0, and -4.5,respectively, in the general direction of the Galactic center arestudied. An exponential disk model is used to separate these regionsinto disk and bulge cumulative counts functions (CCF). It is found that,for the case of Baade's window (BW) (Ruelas-Mayorga and Teague, 1992),the disk is dominant at bright magnitudes, whereas the bulge dominatesat the faint end of the CCF. The slope of the bulge CCF is steeper thanthat for the disk in all three cases confirming the result obtained forBW. The two color JHK diagram and the K vs J-K diagram for the threeregions reveal that the stellar population in these areas is similar tothat studied in BW.

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Observation and Astrometry data

Constellation:Κένταυρος
Right ascension:13h58m40.80s
Declination:-44°48'13.0"
Apparent magnitude:3.87
Distance:128.041 parsecs
Proper motion RA:-28.1
Proper motion Dec:-22.3
B-T magnitude:3.59
V-T magnitude:3.811

Catalogs and designations:
Proper NamesZhǔèr
  (Edit)
Bayerυα Cen
HD 1989HD 121790
TYCHO-2 2000TYC 7802-2736-1
USNO-A2.0USNO-A2 0450-16635204
BSC 1991HR 5249
HIPHIP 68282

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