We have studied in detail the properties of local active star-forming galaxies from the UCM survey, and in particular their star-formation histories. We have quantified the relative importance of the current episode of star formation in comparison to the underlying older stellar populations. We have also determined the total stellar mass function

We use data from the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE), recently commissioned at the Very Large Telescope (VLT), to study the kinematics and stellar population content of NGC 4371, an early-type massive barred galaxy in the core of the Virgo cluster. We integrate this study with a detailed structural analysis using imaging data from the

We present simultaneous and continuous observations of H_alpha, H_beta, NaI D_1, D_2 and HeI D_3 lines of the chromospherically active binary HR 1099. We have observed HR 1099 for more than 3 weeks almost continuously and monitored two flares. An increase in H_alpha, CaII H & K, H_beta, HeI D_3 and HeI lambda6678 and a strong filling-in of the NaI

Context. The early-type binary MY Cam belongs to the young open cluster Alicante 1, embedded in Cam OB3. Aims: MY Cam consists of two early-O type main-sequence stars and shows a photometric modulation suggesting an orbital period slightly above one day. We intend to confirm this orbital period and derive orbital and stellar parameters. Methods

We present the status of an ongoing study for a high-resolution near-infrared echelle spectrograph for the 10.4-m GTC (Gran Telescopio de Canarias) which will soon start operating at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on the island of La Palma. The main science driver of this instrument, which we have baptized NAHUAL, is to carry out a

We propose to obtain [NII]Lambda658.3 nm images of the extended nebulae around the symbiotic binaries CH Cyg {HD182917} and He 2-104 {PK315+09D1} using the WFPC2 camera {+ [OII]Lambda372.8 nm with STIS for CH Cyg}. These large ionized nebulae, one of which has been only recently discovered, trace mass loss episodes spanning a wide range of time