The optical properties of a number of supercompact ultraviolet luminous galaxies (UVLGs), recently discovered in the local universe matching Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data, are discussed. Detailed reanalysis of the SDSS data for these and other similar but nearer galaxies shows that their surface

The most frequently proposed model for the origin of quasars holds that the high accretion rates seen in luminous active galactic nuclei (AGN) are primarily triggered during major mergers between gas-rich galaxies. While plausible for decades, this model has only begun to be tested with statistical rigor in the past few years. Here, we report on a

We present Doppler and modulation tomography of the X-ray nova XTEJ1118+480 with data obtained during quiescence using the 10-m Keck II telescope. The hotspot where the gas stream hits the accretion disc is seen in Hα, Hβ, HeI λ5876 and CaII λ8662, thus verifying the presence of continued mass transfer within the system. The disc is clearly seen in

Broadband imaging of Comet 67P/Churyumov Gerasimenko has provided more data on the characterisation of the target of the ESA Rosetta Mission. The comet monitoring between r h=2.37 and r h=2.78 AU postperihelion shows a prominent dust coma which extends up to ≈ 25,000 km from the nucleus, and a long dust structure in approximately anti-tail

We present the results of a systematic analysis of the solid state features identified in the circumstellar environments of a large sample of evolved stars with ISO/SWS and Spitzer/IRS spectroscopy. The sample includes several hundred stars with a wide variety of progenitor masses evolving from the early AGB phase to the PN stage. Our observations

We have acquired narrow and broad band imaging, together with high and low resolution spectroscopy for the source IRAS 09371+1212. As a result, we are able to show the presence of systematic colour gradients within the interior and exterior envelopes. Whilst the interior bright lobes are characterised by relatively high values of V-R (a regime of