We derive the properties of dusty tori in active galactic nuclei from the comparison of observed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of SDSS quasars and a precomputed grid of torus models. The observed SEDs comprise SDSS photometry, Two-Micron All-Sky Survey J, H and K data, whenever available, and mid-infrared (mid-IR) data from the Spitzer Wide

We present near-infrared linear spectropolarimetry of a sample of persistent X-ray binaries: Sco X-1, Cyg X-2 and GRS 1915+105. For Sco X-1 and Cyg X-2, the polarization levels at 2.4 μm are 1.3+/-0.10 % and 5.4+/-0.7 %, respectively, which is greater than the polarization level at 1.65 μm. This cannot be explained by interstellar polarization or

We present the SWIRE Photometric Redshift Catalogue 1025119 redshifts of unprecedented reliability and of accuracy comparable with or better than previous work. Our methodology is based on fixed galaxy and quasi-stellar object templates applied to data at 0.36-4.5 μm, and on a set of four infrared emission templates fitted to infrared excess data

We present time-resolved CCD photometry of 15 cataclysmic variables (CVs) identified by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The data were obtained as part of the 2004/2005 International Time Programme on La Palma. We discuss the morphology of the light curves and the CV subtypes, and give accurate orbital periods for 11 systems. Nine systems are

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Over the last 40 years, X-ray astronomy missions have revealed long-term, superorbital periods in a variety of X-ray binaries. These modulations can provide significant constraints on the physical properties of accretion discs. Some of these modulations are Her X-1-like and are interpreted as irradiation-driven, tilted, precessing accretion discs