A comparison of UV surface brightness and HI surface densities for spiral galaxies

Shaya and Federman (1987) suggested that the ambient ultraviolet flux at 1000 A permeating a spiral galaxy controls the neutral hydrogen (HI) surface density in the galaxy. They found that the atomic envelopes surrounding small molecular clouds, because of their great number, provide the major contribution to the HI surface density over the stellar disk. The increase in HI surface density with later Hubble types was ascribed to the stronger UV fields from more high-mass stars in later Hubble types. These hypotheses are based on the observations of nearby diffuse interstellar clouds, which show a sharp atomic-to-molecular transition (Savage et al. 1977), and on the theoretical framework introduced by Federman, Glassgold, and Kwan (1979). Atomic envelopes around interstellar clouds in the solar neighborhood arise when a steady state is reached between photodissociation of H2 and the formation of H2 on grains. The photodissociation process involves photons with wavelengths between 912 A and 1108 A. Shaya and Federman used H-alpha flux as an approximate measure for the far UV flux and made their comparisons based on averages over Hubble type. Here, researchers compare, on an individual basis, UV data obtained with space-borne and balloon-borne instruments for galaxies with measurements of HI surface density (Warmels 1988a, b). The comparisons substantiate the conclusion of Shaya and Federman that the far UV field controls the HI content of spiral galaxies

Ancient oceans and Martian paleohydrology

The global model of ocean formation on Mars is discussed. The studies of impact crater densities on certain Martian landforms show that late in Martian history there could have been coincident formation of: (1) glacial features in the Southern Hemisphere; (2) ponded water and related ice features in the northern plains; (3) fluvial runoff on Martian uplands; and (4) active ice-related mass-movement. This model of transient ocean formation ties these diverse observations together in a long-term cyclic scheme of global planetary operation

RELBET 4.0 user's guide

This manual describes the operation and use of RELBET 4.0 implemented on the Hewlett Packard model 9000. The RELBET System is an integrated collection of computer programs which support the analysis and post-flight reconstruction of vehicle to vehicle relative trajectories of two on-orbit free-flying vehicles: the Space Shuttle Orbiter and some other free-flyer. The manual serves both as a reference and as a training guide. Appendices provide experienced users with details and full explanations of program usage. The body of the manual introduces new users to the system by leading them through a step by step example of a typical production. This should equip the new user both to execute a typical production process and to understand the most significant variables in that process

Hubble Space Telescope Images of the Subarcsecond Jet in DG Tau

We have applied a new restoration technique to archival [O~I], H$\alpha$, and continuum HST images of DG~Tau. The restored [O~I] and H$\alpha$ images show that DG~Tau has a jet with a projected length of 25~AU and width $\leq$10~AU, and is already collimated at a projected distance of $\sim$~40~AU (0\farcs25) from the star. Such a narrow width and short collimation distance for a stellar jet places important constraints on theoretical models of jet formation.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures included. All in postscript, please read instructions at the beginning of the file. Accepted by the Ap.J. Letter

Rotation In Young Stars

The smallest molecular cores observed to date have at least ∼6 orders of magnitude greater angular momentum per unit mass than the Sun, suggesting that they would greatly exceed the breakup velocity if no angular momentum was lost during the star formation process. Therefore, an angular momentum regulation mechanism must be at work in the pre-main-sequence phase, and disks are often invoked as the solution to the angular momentum problem. Thanks to large-format CCDs, more than 1000 periods for young stars are now known (with more being presented at this conference), and with the Spitzer Space Telescope, we have the ability to get reliable circumstellar disk indicators for many 1000s of stars at once. Now, for the first time, we may have enough stars to start to constrain the angular momentum loss mechanism in a meaningful fashion. In this contribution, we review the observations made to date of rotation in pre-main-sequence low-mass stars