462 research outputs found
Comet ShoemakerâLevy 9: No effect on the Io plasma torus
Observations of the Io plasma torus made before, during, and after the impact of Comet ShoemakerâLevy 9 with Jupiter reveal no cometâinduced changes. Three weeks of high spectralâresolution groundâbased visible spectroscopy show no changes larger than typical dayâtoâday variations in the torus densities, ion temperatures, or rotation velocities. Comparison with six months of identically obtained data from 1991 and 1992 also shows no differences
Spectroscopic Confirmation of a Radio-Selected Galaxy Overdensity at z=1.11
We report the discovery of a galaxy overdensity at z=1.11 associated with the
z=1.110 high-redshift radio galaxy MG0442+0202. The group, CL0442+0202, was
found in a near-infrared survey of z>1 radio galaxies undertaken to identify
spatially-coincident regions with a high density of objects red in I-K' color,
typical of z>1 elliptical galaxies. Spectroscopic observations from the Keck
telescope reveal five galaxies within 35" of MG0442+0202 at 1.10<z<1.11. These
member galaxies have broad-band colors and optical spectra consistent with
passively-evolving elliptical galaxies formed at high redshift. A 45ks Chandra
X-Ray Observatory observation detects the radio galaxy and four point sources
within 15" of the radio galaxy, corresponding to a surface density two orders
of magnitude higher than average for X-ray sources at these flux levels,
S(0.5-2keV) > 5e-16 erg/cm2/s. One of these point sources is identified with a
radio-quiet, typeII quasar at z=1.863, akin to sources recently reported in
deep Chandra surveys. The limit on an extended hot intracluster medium in the
Chandra data is S(1-6keV) < 1.9e-15 erg/cm2/s (3-sigma, 30" radius aperture).
Though the X-ray observations do not confirm the existence of a massive, bound
cluster at z>1, the success of the optical/near-infrared targeting of
early-type systems near the radio galaxy validates searches using radio
galaxies as beacons for high-redshift large-scale structure. We interpret
CL0442+0202 to be a massive cluster in the process of formation.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figure
Reduction and analysis of photometric data on Comet Halley
The discovery that periodic variations in the brightness of Comet Halley were characterized by two unrelated frequencies implies that the nucleus is in a complex state of rotation. It either nutates as a result of the random addition of small torque perturbations accumulated over many perihelion passages, or the jet activity torques are so strong that it precesses wildly at each perihelion passage. To diagnose the state of nuclear rotation, researchers began a program to acquire photometric time series of the comet as it recedes from the sun. The intention is to observe the decay of the comet's atmosphere and then, when it is unemcumbered by the light of the coma, follow the light variation of the nucleus itself. The latter will be compared with preperihelion time series and the orientation of the nucleus at the time of Vega and Giotto flybys and an accurate rotational ephemeris constructed. Halley was observed on 38 nights during 1987 and approximately 21 nights in 1988. The comet moved from 5 AU to 8.5 AU during this time. The brightness of the coma was found to rapidly decrease in 1988 as the coma and cometary activity collapses. The magnitude in April 1988 was 19 mag (visual) and it is predicted that the nucleus itself will be the major contributor to the brightness in the 1988 and 1989 season
Discovery of a Color-Selected Quasar at z=5.50
We present observations of RD J030117+002025, a quasar at z=5.50 discovered
from deep, multi-color, ground-based observations covering 74 square arcmin.
This is the most distant quasar or AGN currently known. The object was targeted
as an R-band dropout, with R(AB)>26.3 (3-sigma limit in a 3 arcsec diameter
region), I(AB)=23.8, and z(AB)=23.4. The Keck/LRIS spectrum shows broad
Lyman-alpha/NV emission and sharp absorption decrements from the
highly-redshifted hydrogen forests. The fractional continuum depression due to
the Lyman-alpha forest is D(A)=0.90. RD J030117+002025 is the least luminous,
high-redshift quasar known (M(B)~-22.7).Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures; to appear in the The Astrophysical Journal
Letter
HST images and properties of the most distant radio galaxies
We present Hubble Space Telescope images of 11 high redshift radio galaxies
(between and ). The galaxies were observed with the WFPC2 camera
in a broad band filter (F606W or F707W, roughly equivalent to V or R-band), for
2 orbits each. We find that on the scale of the HST observations there is a
wide variety of morphological structures of the hosting galaxies: most objects
have a clumpy, irregular appearance, consisting of a bright nucleus and a
number of smaller components, suggestive of merging systems. Some observed
structures could be due (at least partly) to the presence of dust distributed
through the galaxies. The UV continuum emission is generally elongated and
aligned with the axis of the radio sources, however the characteristics of the
``alignment effect'' differ from case to case, suggesting that the phenomenon
cannot be explained by a single physical mechanism. We compare the properties
of our radio galaxies with those of the
UV dropout galaxies and conclude that (i) the most massive radio galaxies may
well evolve from an aggregate of UV dropout galaxies and (ii) high redshift
radio galaxies probably evolve into present day brightest cluster galaxies.Comment: 22 pages, 30 figures, accepted by A&
A Serendipitous Search for High-Redshift Lyman alpha Emission: Two Primeval Galaxy Candidates at z~3
In the course of our ongoing search for serendipitous high-redshift Lyman
alpha (LyA) Emissionin deep archival Keck spectra, we discovered two very high
equivalent width (W_{obs} ~ 450A, 2-sigma) LyA emission line candidates at z ~3
in a moderate dispersion (R~1200) spectrogram. Both lines have low velocity
dispersions (sigma_v ~ 60 km/s) and deconvolved radii r ~ 1 kpc (h = 0.5). We
argue that the lines are LyA, and are powered by stellar ionization. The
surface density of robust, high equivalent width LyA candidates is estimated to
be ~3 \pm 2 per arcmin^2 per unit redshift at z ~ 3, consistent with the
estimate of Cowie etal (1998). The LyA emission line source characteristics are
consistent with the galaxies undergoing their first burst of star formation,
ie, with being primeval. Source sizes and velocity dispersions are comparable
to the theoretical primeval galaxy model of Lin and Murray (1992) based on the
inside-out, self-similar collapse of an isothermal sphere. In this model, star
formation among field galaxies is a protracted process. Galaxies are thought to
be able to display high equivalent widths for only the first few x 10 Myr. This
time is short in relation to the difference in look back times between z=3 and
z=4, and implies that a substantial fraction of strong line-emitting galaxies
at z=3 were formed at redshifts z < 4. We discuss the significance of
high-equivalent width LyA-emitting galaxies in terms of the emerging picture of
the environment, and the specific characteristics of primeval galaxy formation
at high redshift.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, one table. To appear in the Astrophysical
Journa
A third update of the status of the 3CR sources - Further new redshifts and new identifications of distant galaxies
We present the third major update of new optical and radio data for the strong sources in the Revised Third Cambridge Catalogue (hereafter 3CR). New positions, redshifts, magnitudes, and identifications have been included as well as some radio data for the sample of 298 extragalactic 3CR sources. A new and extended bibliography of optical and radio data is included. The 3CR sources have now reached an almost satisfactory state of optical identification; 91% of the sources at midbmid > 10° now have firm identifications and we have spectra for most of them. The few remaining faint objects at high latitudes are, of course, important, as they tend to be the most luminous radio sources known. Full completion of the 3CR data will aid in reducing the residual uncertainties at the luminous end of the evolving radio luminosity ftinction. Finally, we present some new identifications and new spectroscopic data for 29 faint 3CR galaxies, and one quasar
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