A novel method for identifying Fast Optical Transients on astronomical archival plates

We report on a novel method to identify brief optical transients (OTs) on astronomical archival photographic plates. This method does not require identification of all objects and their comparison with the catalogue, but rely solely on the information included in the particular plate itself

Ultra Low Dispersion Spectroscopy with Gaia and Astronomical Slitless Surveys

The ultra-low dispersion spectroscopy to be applied in the ESA Gaia space observatory and the ground-based objective-prism plate surveys represent a similar type of astrophysical data. Although the dispersion in plate surveys is usually larger than in the Gaia blue and red photometers (BP/RP), the spectral resolutions differ by a factor of 2–3 only, since the resolution in ground-based spectra is seeing-limited. We argue that some of the algorithms developed for digitized objective-prism plates can also be applied for the Gaia spectra. At the same time, the plate results confirm the feasibility of observing strong emission lines with Gaia RP/BP

Ultra Low-Dispersion Spectroscopy with Gaia and Photographic Objective Prism Surveys

This paper discusses the ultra low-dispersion spectroscopy to be applied in the ESA Gaia space observatory and the ground-based objective-prism plate surveys. Although the dispersion in plate surveys is usually larger than in the Gaia BP/RP spectrometers, the spectral resolutions differ by a factor of 2–3 only, since the resolution in ground-based spectra is seeing-limited. We argue that some of the algorithms developed for digitized objective-prism plates can also be applied for the Gaia spectra. At the same time, the plate results confirm the feasibility of observing strong emission lines with Gaia RP/BP

Lobster Eye X-ray optics for astrophysics: Recent status

X-ray optics in Lobster Eye arrangement represent promising complementary device to narrow field X-ray optics in common use. We present briefly recent status of design, developments, and tests of X-ray optics including Lobster Eye modules developed and tested within recent space project

Gamma-Ray Burster Counterparts: HST Blue and Ultraviolet Data

The surest solution of the Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) mystery is to find an unambiguous low-energy quiescent counterpart. However, to date no reasonable candidates have been identified in the x-ray, optical, infrared, or radio ranges. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has now allowed for the first deep ultraviolet searches for quiescent counterparts. This paper reports on multiepoch ultraviolet searches of five GRB positions with HST. We found no sources with significant ultraviolet excesses, variability, parallax, or proper motion in any of the burst error regions. In particular, we see no sources similar to that proposed as a counterpart to the GRB970228. While this negative result is disappointing, it still has good utility for its strict limits on the no-host-galaxy problem in cosmological models of GRBs. For most cosmological models (with peak luminosity 6X10^50 erg/s), the absolute B magnitude of any possible host galaxy must be fainter than -15.5 to -17.4. These smallest boxes for some of the brightest bursts provide the most critical test, and our limits are a severe problem for all published cosmological burst models.Comment: 15 pages, 2 ps figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Lobster X-ray All Sky Monitor—Novel experiment for monitoring GRBs and XRFs

We present a brief review of the X-ray All-Sky Monitor (ASM) based on Lobster Eye(LE) optics. Thesyste m will observe the Whole sky in soft X-rays with the limiting flux up to two orders of magnitude better than current ASMs

Novel X-ray telescopes for wide-field X-ray monitoring

We report on fully innovative very wide-field of view X-ray telescopes with high sensitivity as well as large field of view. The prototypes are very promising, allowing the proposals for space projects with very wide-field Lobstereye X-ray optics to be considered. The novel telescopes will monitor the sky with unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution of order of 1 arcmin. They are expected to contribute essentially to study and to understand various astrophysical objects such as AGN, SNe, Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), X-ray flashes (XRFs), galactic binary sources, stars, CVs, X-ray novae, various transient sources, etc. The Lobster optics based X-ray All Sky Monitor is capable to detect around 20 GRBs and 8 XRFs yearly and this will surely significantly contribute to the related science

Digitization and astrophysical use of Hewitt Camera Archive

© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim We briefly present the status of digitization and astrophysical use of the Hewitt Camera Archive, UK. These wide-field images, so far little used for astrophysical work, cover both northern as well as southern sky down to limiting mag 13. We also discuss the potential of photographic images taken by satellite tracking cameras for recent astrophysics in general

ASTRONOMICAL GLASS PLATE NEGATIVES: MONITORING OF EMULSION LAYER DETERIORATION

One of the techniques for making photographic negatives most used in the history of photography were gelatin glass plates. This technique was used not only in the artistic field but also and mainly in the scientific field. The main period when glass plate negatives were used in astronomy was between 1890–1980. There are over 7 million of these negatives all over the word and they carry valuable historical scientific data. However, during the long-term storage of this material, deterioration of the emulsion (picture) layer and/or the support (glass) layer has occurred. In this paper we report on our preliminary results from an analysis of the yellowing of the emulsion layer and of gold micro-spots. Both phenomena worsen the readability of the information in the photograph, and it is necessary to prevent their formation, which is why we need to know as much as possible about their origin