Analysis of bulges to redshifts of up to z=1 have provided ambiguous results as to whether bulges as a class are old structures akin to elliptical galaxies or younger products of the evolution of their host disks. We aim to define a sample of intermediate-z disk galaxies harbouring central bulges, and a complementary sample of disk galaxies without

Observations of the predicted occultation between the satellites Miranda and Oberon were performed on 2007 July 30. Data analysis reveals that the predicted magnitude drop for this phenomenon was overestimated and we establish an upper limit of 0fm05 for the phenomenon, perhaps due to a non-lambertian limb scattering. The new astrometry obtained

One of the aims of next generation optical interferometric instrumentation is to be able to make use of information contained in the visibility phase to construct high dynamic range images. Radio and optical interferometry are at the two extremes of phase corruption by the atmosphere. While in radio it is possible to obtain calibrated phases for

Classically, optical and near-infrared interferometry have relied on closure phase techniques to produce images. Such techniques allow us to achieve modest dynamic ranges. In order to test the feasibility of next generation optical interferometers in the context of the VLTI-spectro-imager (VSI), we have embarked on a study of image reconstruction

We summarize the performances measured at room temperature and in cryogenic conditions of a set of NIR Volume Phase Holographic Gratings (VPHGs) which can then be used in astronomical instrumentations. VPHGs are novel optical components which can replace standard transmission gratings. Instead of a surface modulation a diffraction index modulation

The forthcoming Extremely Large Telescopes, and the new generation of Extreme Adaptive Optics systems, carry on a boost in the number of actuators that makes the real-time correction of the atmospheric aberration computationally challenging. It is necessary to study new algorithms for performing Adaptive Optics at the required speed. Among the last