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At least 289 records · Page 16

Infrared variability of V1016 Cygni

Infrared data obtained from broad-band photometric observations on the 60-inch telescope of the Hale observatories on Mount Wilson with the Becklin-Neugebauer photometer are discussed. The infrared magnitudes (shown as a function of time) illustrate the periodic nature of the V1016 Cygni variations. In particular, it can be seen that the longer-wavelength IR emission between 3 and 10 microns varies along with the shorter-wavelength emission. Although other explanations are possible, the infrared variability and luminosity of V1016 Cyg suggests the presence of Mira variable component together with the hot component now seen visually.

Harvey, P. M.↗

High-spectral-resolution measurements of the H I 1216 and Mg II 2800 emissions from Arcturus

High-spectral-resolution scans of H I 1216 and Mg II 2796, 2803 obtained using the ultraviolet spectrometer abroad the Copernicus satellite show broad and very asymmetrical emission profiles. The ratio of the line widths to the solar values is consistent with a law similar to the Wilson-Bappu relation for the calcium K reversal. A fit of the interstellar absorption profile indicates that the average H density toward this nearby star is low, 0.02-0.1 per cu cm.

Moos, H. W.↗

Differential rotation of solar filaments

The latitudinal component of solar differential rotation and the possibility of a radial component are discussed and compared to the observed rotational velocities of solar filaments. The author's values of rotational rate versus heliographic latitude for 100 points in the solar atmosphere derived from 17 quiescent filaments are shown to be comparable to the rates found by d'Azambuja and d'Azambuja (1948). The filament rate is significantly greater than the spot rate (Newton and Nunn, 1951); the difference cannot be accounted for by the poleward migration of filaments and seems to reflect a true radial gradient of rotational velocity in the sun. It is shown that filaments in closer proximity to active regions usually exhibit no differential rotation, while those far from active regions generally show it clearly. Comparison with Mt. Wilson photospheric Doppler measurements shows that filaments rotate faster than the general photosphere and that the spot rate exceeds that for the general photosphere.

Glackin, D. L.↗

An interdisciplinary analysis of multispectral satellite data for selected cover types in the Colorado Mountains, using automatic data processing techniques

The author has identified the following significant results. MSS data on the area near Lake Hope and San Miguel on the Ophir and Mt. Wilson quadrangles were classified. Two vein-like areas of alteration were apparent, along with the hill wash composed primarily of altered rock. These areas were quite delineated. A small oval patch of shadowed alteration was classified in a location in which alteration was previously unnoticed during an airphoto study.

Hoffer, R. M.↗

Studies of solar magnetic fields. II - The magnetic fluxes

Magnetic flux data from the Mount Wilson magnetograph are examined over the interval 1967-1973. The total flux in the north is greater than that in the south by about 7% over this interval, reflecting a higher level of activity in the northern hemisphere. Close to 95% of the total flux is confined to latitudes equatorward of 40 degrees, which means that close to 95% of the flux cancels with flux of opposite polarity before it can migrate poleward of 40 degrees. It is pointed out that a consequence of this flux distribution is that ephemeral regions must make a negligible contribution to the long-term large-scale magnetic flux distribution. A broad peak in the total flux may be seen centered about one year after activity maximum in the north below 40 degrees. In the south there is a very sharp increase in flux about the same time. In the north, several poleward migrations of flux may be seen.

Howard, R.↗

Four-body trajectory optimization

The two methods which are suitable for use in a 4-body trajectory optimization program are both multiconic methods. They include an approach due to Wilson (1970) and to Byrnes and Hooper (1970) and a procedure developed by Stumpff and Weiss (1968). The various steps in a trajectory optimization program are discussed, giving attention to variable step integration, the correction of errors by quadrature formulas, questions of two-impulse transfer, three-impulse transfer, and two examples which illustrate the implementation of the computational approaches.

Pu, C. L.↗

Evidence for frost on Rhea's surface

We have observed Rhea (S5) at 1.6 and 2.2 microns at Mt. Wilson using the Caltech photometer on the 1.52 m and 2.54 m telescopes. The infrared spectral reflectances relative to 0.55 micron are 0.8 at 1.65 micron and 0.6 at 2.2 microns. Such absorption bands in the near infrared are not consistent with spectra of most rocks or minerals; even carbonaceous chondritic materials have nearly flat reflectances over this spectral region. Frosts, however, have strong absorption bands in the 1-3 microns region. In particular, the broadband infrared reflectances of Rhea are similar to those of the Galilean satellites Europa (J2) and Ganymede (J3) and also the rings of Saturn. Rhea's low density, high albedo and relatively flat reflectance from 0.3 to 1.1 micron as well as the low infrared reflectances reported here are consistent with the presence of water ice on Rhea's surface.

Johnson, T. V.↗

Mass transfer in binary X-ray systems

The influence of X-ray heating on gas flows in binary X-ray systems is examined. A simple estimate is obtained for the evaporative wind flux from a stellar atmosphere due to X-ray heating which agrees with numerical calculations by Alme and Wilson (1974) but disagrees with calculations by Arons (1973) and by Basko and Sunyaev (1974) for the Her X-1/HZ Her system. The wind flux is sensitive to the soft X-ray spectrum. The self-excited wind mechanism does not work. Mass transfer in the Hercules system probably occurs by flow of the atmosphere of HZ Her through the gravitational saddle point of the system. The accretion gas stream is probably opaque with atomic density of not less than 10 to the 15th power per cu cm and is confined to a small fraction of 4(pi) steradians. Other binary X-ray systems are briefly discussed.

Mccray, R.↗

Galilean satellite mutual occultation data processing

Results of processing seven mutual occultation lightcurves are presented. The lightcurves were obtained using the 60-in. telescope (152 cm) at Mt. Wilson to observe six J1 occulting J2 events and one J3 occulting J2 event. Using a uniformly illuminated disk model, local satellite Jovicentric longitude corrections of 675 plus or minus 150 km, 275 plus or minus 240 km, and 1175 plus or minus 350 km for J1, J2, and J3, respectively, were determined. These corrections enabled the event midpoint times to be computed to within 5 sec of the observed midpoint times for all seven events. These longitude corrections have been verified by Pioneer 10 and recent (1973 and 1974) conventional Jovian eclipse observations. A relative J1:J2 out-of-plane error of less than a few hundred kilometers has been indicated; however, it appears that the relative J3:J2 out-of-plane error is larger than 600 km. Deficiencies in both the uniformly illuminated disk model and Sampson's theory of the Galilean satellite motions for the reduction of mutual event data are described.

Duxbury, T. C.↗

Stellar model chromospheres. III - Arcturus /K2 III/

Models are constructed for the upper photosphere and chromosphere of Arcturus based on the H, K, and IR triplet lines of Ca II and the h and k lines of Mg II. The chromosphere model is derived from complete redistribution solutions for a five-level Ca II ion and a two-level Mg II ion. A photospheric model is derived from the Ca II wings using first the 'traditional' complete-redistribution limit and then the more realistic partial-redistribution approximation. The temperature and mass column densities for the temperature-minimum region and the chromosphere-transition region boundary are computed, and the pressure in the transition region and corona are estimated. It is found that the ratio of minimum temperature to effective temperature is approximately 0.77 for Arcturus, Procyon, and the sun, and that mass tends to increase at the temperature minimum with decreasing gravity. The pressure is found to be about 1 percent of the solar value, and the surface brightness of the Arcturus transition region and coronal spectrum is estimated to be much less than for the sun. The partial-redistribution calculation for the Ca II K line indicates that the emission width is at least partially determined by damping rather than Doppler broadening, suggesting a reexamination of previous explanations for the Wilson-Bappu effect.

Ayres, T. R.↗

H alpha observations of the 12 August 1975 type 3-RS bursts

H alpha filtergram observations of a number of the Type III-RS (reverse slope) bursts that occurred on August 12, 1975 are presented. Solar radio emission was peculiar on that date in that a large number, and proportion, of the usually rare reverse slope bursts were observed. The radio bursts are shown to coincide in time with a homologous set of H alpha flares located at the limbward edge of spot group Mt. Wilson 19598. A model is proposed in which the reverse slope bursts are the downward branches of U bursts, whose upward branches are hidden behind the coronal density enhancement over the spot group.

Labonte, B. J.↗

Copernicus observations of Betelgeuse and Antares

The Mg II h and k lines were observed strongly in emission by Copernicus scans of the M supergiants alpha Ori and alpha Sco. The striking symmetry in the k line as contrasted with the symmetric h line, as observed previously was confirmed. Estimates of absolute chromospheric fluxes were obtained. Measured values for the widths of the h and k lines do not follow a Wilson-Bappu relationship. Upper limits determined for other chromospheric lines of alpha Ori tend to exclude the existence of extensive and/or hot regions surrounding this supergiant. Observed weakening by fluorescence of the Fe L 4307 A line is good evidence that the Mn I and Fe I resonance transitions overlying the Mg II k-line profile are responsible for the strong asymmetry of this line in the two stars. However, quantitative study shows that the absorption provided by the cool circumstellar shells is insufficient to provide the observed asymmetry. Additional absorption may be provided by a cool turbulent region at the top of the chromosphere.

Bernat, A. P.↗

Early impact basins and the onset of plate tectonics

The fundamental crustal dichotomy of the Earth (high and low density crust) was established nearly 4 billion years ago. Therefore, subductable crust was concentrated at the surface of the Earth very early in its history, making possible an early onset for plate tectonics. Simple thermal history calculations spanning 1 billion years show that the basin forming impact thins the lithosphere by at least 25%, and increases the sublithosphere thermal gradients by roughly 20%. The corresponding increase in convective heat transport, combined with the highly fractured nature of the thinned basin lithosphere, suggest that lithospheric breakup or rifting occurred shortly after the formation of the basins. Conditions appropriate for early rifting persisted from some 100,000,000 years following impact. We suggest a very early stage of high temperature, fast spreading "microplate" tectonics, originating before 3.5 billion years ago, and gradually stabilizing over the Archaean into more modern large plate or Wilson Cycle tectonics.

Frey, H.↗

Emission object in Orion

The note draws attention to a structural feature in the Orion nebula, consisting of a parachute-shaped object converging on 64 Orionis, noted on H alpha photographs of the Orion nebula taken with the 76-cm Allegheny refractor. The same feature shows up clearly on a photograph taken in 1909 with the Mount Wilson 152-cm reflector, and on a photograph taken with the Palomar 5-m reflector. Measurements made on these three plates indicate a possible expansion of the object of about 3.6 seconds of arc per century, corresponding to a tangential velocity of about 90 to 100 km/sec. If the expansion continued at a linear rate, an explosive event may have occurred approximately 900 years ago.

Feibelman, W. A.↗

Theoretical grain-size thresholds and their application to accurate methods for paleointensity determination

Improved values of critical grain-size thresholds for magnetite and Fe have been obtained using a rigorous theoretical approach. The temperature dependence of these thresholds is interesting in that it indicates the existence of certain grains which, when cooled from above their blocking temperature, pass sequentially through the following magnetization states: superparamagnetic to single-domain to nonuniform magnetization. Such grains will yield correct paleointensities by the Wilson (1961) or Shaw (1974) method but not by the well-known method due to Thellier and Thellier (1959).

Banerjee, S. K.↗

H-alpha observations of the August 12, 1975 Type III-RS bursts

We present H-alpha filtergram observations of a number of the Type III-RS (reverse slope) bursts that occurred on August 12, 1975. Solar radio emission was peculiar on that date in that a large number, and proportion, of the usually rare reverse slope bursts were observed (Tarnstrom and Zehntner, 1975). We show that the radio bursts coincide in time with a homologous set of H-alpha flares located at the limbward edge of spot group Mt. Wilson 19598. We propose a model in which the reverse slope bursts are the downward branches of U bursts, whose upward branches are hidden behind the coronal density enhancement over the spot group.

Labonte, B. J.↗

Intensity and transmission measurements in the nu-3 fundamental of N2O at low temperatures

Spectral transmission of IR radiation through the nitrogen-broadened lines of the nu-3 fundamental of N2O has been measured at 154, 202 and 300 K. A value of 1411 + or - 54 per sq cm per atmosphere at STP has been obtained for the combined strength of the nu-3 and nu-2(1) + nu-3 - nu-2(1) bands, using the Wilson-Wells-Penner-Weber method. This value of the combined strength, the relative intensity calculations of Gray Young, the room-temperature data of Toth for nitrogen-broadened half-widths in the nu-1 + nu-3 and 2nu2(0) + nu-3 bands, and the variation of the line width with temperature proposed by Varanasi and Sarangi are shown to yield excellent agreement between the measured and computed spectral transmittance throughout the band.

Varanasi, P.↗

High-resolution optical observations of Ca II K in Deneb and Aldebaran

High-spectral-resolution echellograms confirm the existence of an asymmetric emission core in the K line of Deneb that may be due to chromospheric emission from this A-type supergiant or that may be due to scattering from a circumstellar shell. If the core is due to chromospheric emission, its width does not agree with what is predicted using the Wilson-Bappu relation for late-type stars. This would indicate that the chromospheres of hotter stars are qualitatively different from those of cooler stars. A K-emission-core profile for Aldebaran is also presented.

Mcclintock, W.↗