Results are presented on a non-LTE analysis of high-resolution Cassegrain echelle CCD spectra of the four most luminous stars in the NGC 346 cluster in the SMC, obtained with the ESO 3.6-m telescope, making it possible to estimate the age of the NGC 346 cluster and to trace its evolution. The results yield the effective temperatures, gravities

The oxygen abundance has been determined by analysis of the O I infrared triplet in 30 unevolved field stars of metallicities in the range Fe/H abundance ratio between -0.2 and -3.5. The data show that the O/Fe abundance ratio increases monotonically as metallicity decreases from solar, reaching values in the range 1.0-1.2 at an Fe/H abundance

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New narrow-band images of NGC 4151, taken in excellent seeing conditions with the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope are presented. These reveal a wealth of detail that can be used to test models for the anisotropy of the narrow-line region. From forbidden O III (4959, 5007)/H-alpha line ratio map, three important features are identified: (1) a jet

The results of optical spectroscopy and photometry from La Palma (Canary Islands) of V404 Cyg are presented. They correspond to the optical counterpart of the new X-ray transient GS2023+338 discovered by Ginga. The overall light curve is similar to that of the previous optical outburst of this object, recorded as Nova Cyg 1938 and classified as a