We have obtained for the first time 2.10-2.45 μm infrared spectra of the soft-X-ray transient V404 Cygni. We determine a 95 per cent confidence upper limit to the fraction of light arising from the accretion disc of 14 per cent. The effect this has on the mass of the compact object, determined from modelling the infrared ellipsoidal variations, is

Rapid developments in near-infrared (NIR) arrays and adaptive optics systems have driven the development of wide-field and high-spatial-resolution, high-optical-quality NIR imagers and spectrographs, providing an unparalleled boost to NIR observations. Based around a 1024 × 1024 pixel2 Hawaii-1 array, the Isaac Newton Group Red Imaging Device

We identify 10—seven for the first time—elements of cold halo substructure (ECHOS) in the volume within 17.5 kpc of the Sun in the inner halo of the Milky Way. Our result is based on the observed spatial and radial velocity distribution of metal-poor main-sequence turnoff (MPMSTO) stars in 137 Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and

Velocity and magnetic fields are derived from subtracting intensity measurements made at different times and, normally, under different conditions. This differential imaging property puts important requirements on image stabilization. Examples of the implications for the Solar Orbiter mission are discussed. Similarly, we review how spectral and

We present integral field spectroscopy of two selected zones in the Orion nebula obtained with the Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrophotometer, covering the optical spectral range from 3500 to 7200 Å and with a spatial resolution of 1 arcsec. The observed zones are located on the prominent Bright bar and on the brightest area at the north-east of the

The luminous infrared galaxy Arp 299 (IC 694 + NGC 3690) is studied using optical integral field spectroscopy obtained with the INTEGRAL system, together with archival Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 and NICMOS images. The stellar and ionized gas morphology shows λ-dependent variations due to the combined effects of the dust internal extinction and