According to LCDM theory, hierarchical evolution occurs on all mass scales, implying that satellites of the Milky Way should also have companions. The recent discovery of ultra-faint dwarf galaxy candidates in close proximity to the Magellanic Clouds provides an opportunity to test this theory. We present proper motion (PM) measurements for 13 of

The bulge of the Galaxy is analyzed by inverting K-band star counts from the Two-Micron Galactic Survey in a number of off-plane regions. A total area of about 75 sq deg of sky is analyzed. Assuming a nonvariable luminosity function within the bulge, we derive the top end of the K-band luminosity function and the stellar density function, whose

We investigate the morphologies, masses and possible correlations between these two properties for 108 extremely red galaxies (EROs) found in the Groth strip. The photometric data include U, B, F606W, F814W, J, and K_s bands. The EROs were selected on the basis of their extremely red colour, F814W-K_s ≥ 4 and K_s ≤ 21.0. Morphologies are based on a

We have tested current models for the atmospheres (including photosphere and low chromosphere) of late-type stars using the D resonance lines of neutral sodium as a diagnostic. To this end, we have measured the equivalent widths of the D lines for a sample of 39 dwarf and 45 giant late-type stars observed with high spectral resolution. We

From the peak of a gravitational microlensing high-magnification event in the A component of QSO 2237+0305, which was accurately monitored by the Gravitational Lenses International Time Project collaboration, we derived new information on the nature and size of the optical V-band and R-band sources in the distant quasar. If the microlensing peak is

We present a gallery with some of the most interesting microstructures of low-ionization found in planetary nebulae (PNe). A rich zoo of knots, filaments, jets and jet-like systems are introduced, together with their morphological and kinematic properties. We briefly compare the predictions of the theoretical mechanisms for their formation with the