Sample records for apparent proper motion

  1. On the systematics in apparent proper motions of radio sources observed by VLBI

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raposo-Pulido, V.; Lambert, S.; Capitaine, N.; Nilsson, T.; Heinkelmann, R.; Schuh, H.

    2015-08-01

    For about twenty years, several authors have been investigating the systematics in the apparent proper motions of radio source positions. In some cases, the theoretical work developed (Pyne et al., 1996) could not be assessed due to the few number of VLBI observations. In other cases, the effects attributed to apparent proper motion could not be related successfully because there were no significant evidences from a statistical point of view (MacMillan, 2005). In this work we provide considerations about the estimation of the coefficients of spherical harmonics, based on a three-step procedure used by Titov et al. (2011) and Titov and Lambert (2013). The early stage of this work has been to compare step by step the computations and estimation processes between the Calc/Solve (http://gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov/solve/) and VieVS software (Böhm et al., 2012). To achieve this, the results were analyzed and compared with the previous study done by Titov and Lambert (2013).

  2. ON THE CONNECTION OF THE APPARENT PROPER MOTION AND THE VLBI STRUCTURE OF COMPACT RADIO SOURCES

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Moor, A.; Frey, S.; Lambert, S. B.

    2011-06-15

    Many of the compact extragalactic radio sources that are used as fiducial points to define the celestial reference frame are known to have proper motions detectable with long-term geodetic/astrometric very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) measurements. These changes can be as high as several hundred microarcseconds per year for certain objects. When imaged with VLBI at milliarcsecond (mas) angular resolution, these sources (radio-loud active galactic nuclei) typically show structures dominated by a compact, often unresolved 'core' and a one-sided 'jet'. The positional instability of compact radio sources is believed to be connected with changes in their brightness distribution structure. For themore » first time, we test this assumption in a statistical sense on a large sample rather than on only individual objects. We investigate a sample of 62 radio sources for which reliable long-term time series of astrometric positions as well as detailed 8 GHz VLBI brightness distribution models are available. We compare the characteristic direction of their extended jet structure and the direction of their apparent proper motion. We present our data and analysis method, and conclude that there is indeed a correlation between the two characteristic directions. However, there are cases where the {approx}1-10 mas scale VLBI jet directions are significantly misaligned with respect to the apparent proper motion direction.« less

  3. Proper motion and secular variations of Keplerian orbital elements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Butkevich, Alexey G.

    2018-05-01

    High-precision observations require accurate modelling of secular changes in the orbital elements in order to extrapolate measurements over long time intervals, and to detect deviation from pure Keplerian motion caused, for example, by other bodies or relativistic effects. We consider the evolution of the Keplerian elements resulting from the gradual change of the apparent orbit orientation due to proper motion. We present rigorous formulae for the transformation of the orbit inclination, longitude of the ascending node and argument of the pericenter from one epoch to another, assuming uniform stellar motion and taking radial velocity into account. An approximate treatment, accurate to the second-order terms in time, is also given. The proper motion effects may be significant for long-period transiting planets. These theoretical results are applicable to the modelling of planetary transits and precise Doppler measurements as well as analysis of pulsar and eclipsing binary timing observations.

  4. The VLBA Extragalactic Proper Motion Catalog and a Measurement of the Secular Aberration Drift

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Truebenbach, Alexandra E.; Darling, Jeremy

    2017-11-01

    We present a catalog of extragalactic proper motions created using archival VLBI data and our own VLBA astrometry. The catalog contains 713 proper motions, with average uncertainties of ˜24 μas yr-1, including 40 new or improved proper motion measurements using relative astrometry with the VLBA. The observations were conducted in the X-band and yielded positions with uncertainties of ˜70 μas. We add 10 new redshifts using spectroscopic observations taken at Apache Point Observatory and Gemini North. With the VLBA Extragalactic Proper Motion Catalog, we detect the secular aberration drift—the apparent motion of extragalactic objects caused by the solar system’s acceleration around the Galactic center—at a 6.3σ significance. We model the aberration drift as a spheroidal dipole, with the square root of the power equal to 4.89 ± 0.77 μas yr-1, an amplitude of 1.69 ± 0.27 μas yr-1, and an apex at (275\\buildrel{\\circ}\\over{.} 2+/- 10\\buildrel{\\circ}\\over{.} 0, -29\\buildrel{\\circ}\\over{.} 4+/- 8\\buildrel{\\circ}\\over{.} 8). Our dipole model detects the aberration drift at a higher significance than some previous studies, but at a lower amplitude than expected or previously measured. The full aberration drift may be partially removed by the no-net-rotation constraint used when measuring archival extragalactic radio source positions. Like the cosmic microwave background dipole, which is induced by the observer’s motion, the aberration drift signal should be subtracted from extragalactic proper motions in order to detect cosmological proper motions, including the Hubble expansion, long-period stochastic gravitational waves, and the collapse of large-scale structure.

  5. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Darling, Jeremy, E-mail: jdarling@colorado.edu

    Objects and structures gravitationally decoupled from the Hubble expansion will appear to shrink in angular size as the universe expands. Observations of extragalactic proper motions can thus directly reveal the cosmic expansion. Relatively static structures such as galaxies or galaxy clusters can potentially be used to measure the Hubble constant, and test masses in large scale structures can measure the overdensity. Since recession velocities and angular separations can be precisely measured, apparent proper motions can also provide geometric distance measurements to static structures. The apparent fractional angular compression of static objects is 15 μas yr{sup –1} in the local universe;more » this motion is modulated by the overdensity in dynamic expansion-decoupled structures. We use the Titov et al. quasar proper motion catalog to examine the pairwise proper motion of a sparse network of test masses. Small-separation pairs (<200 Mpc comoving) are too few to measure the expected effect, yielding an inconclusive 8.3 ± 14.9 μas yr{sup –1}. Large-separation pairs (200-1500 Mpc) show no net convergence or divergence for z < 1, –2.7 ± 3.7 μas yr{sup –1}, consistent with pure Hubble expansion and significantly inconsistent with static structures, as expected. For all pairs a 'null test' gives –0.36 ± 0.62 μas yr{sup –1}, consistent with Hubble expansion and excludes a static locus at ∼5-10σ significance for z ≅ 0.5-2.0. The observed large-separation pairs provide a reference frame for small-separation pairs that will significantly deviate from the Hubble flow. The current limitation is the number of small-separation objects with precise astrometry, but Gaia will address this and will likely detect the cosmic recession.« less

  6. 76 T dwarfs from the UKIDSS LAS: benchmarks, kinematics and an updated space density

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burningham, Ben; Cardoso, C. V.; Smith, L.; Leggett, S. K.; Smart, R. L.; Mann, A. W.; Dhital, S.; Lucas, P. W.; Tinney, C. G.; Pinfield, D. J.; Zhang, Z.; Morley, C.; Saumon, D.; Aller, K.; Littlefair, S. P.; Homeier, D.; Lodieu, N.; Deacon, N.; Marley, M. S.; van Spaandonk, L.; Baker, D.; Allard, F.; Andrei, A. H.; Canty, J.; Clarke, J.; Day-Jones, A. C.; Dupuy, T.; Fortney, J. J.; Gomes, J.; Ishii, M.; Jones, H. R. A.; Liu, M.; Magazzú, A.; Marocco, F.; Murray, D. N.; Rojas-Ayala, B.; Tamura, M.

    2013-07-01

    We report the discovery of 76 new T dwarfs from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS). Near-infrared broad- and narrow-band photometry and spectroscopy are presented for the new objects, along with Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and warm-Spitzer photometry. Proper motions for 128 UKIDSS T dwarfs are presented from a new two epoch LAS proper motion catalogue. We use these motions to identify two new benchmark systems: LHS 6176AB, a T8p+M4 pair and HD 118865AB, a T5.5+F8 pair. Using age constraints from the primaries and evolutionary models to constrain the radii, we have estimated their physical properties from their bolometric luminosity. We compare the colours and properties of known benchmark T dwarfs to the latest model atmospheres and draw two principal conclusions. First, it appears that the H - [4.5] and J - W2 colours are more sensitive to metallicity than has previously been recognized, such that differences in metallicity may dominate over differences in Teff when considering relative properties of cool objects using these colours. Secondly, the previously noted apparent dominance of young objects in the late-T dwarf sample is no longer apparent when using the new model grids and the expanded sample of late-T dwarfs and benchmarks. This is supported by the apparently similar distribution of late-T dwarfs and earlier type T dwarfs on reduced proper motion diagrams that we present. Finally, we present updated space densities for the late-T dwarfs, and compare our values to simulation predictions and those from WISE.

  7. New Astrometric Limits on the Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Darling, Jeremiah K.; Truebenbach, Alexandra; Paine, Jennie

    2018-06-01

    We present new limits on the low frequency (f < 10-8 Hz) stochastic gravitational wave background using correlated extragalactic proper motions. The familiar methods for gravitational wave detection are ground- and space-based laser interferometry, pulsar timing, and polarization of the cosmic microwave background. Astrometry offers an additional path to gravitational wave detection because gravitational waves deflect the light rays of extragalactic objects, creating apparent proper motions in a quadrupolar (and higher order modes) pattern. Astrometry is sensitive to gravitational waves with frequencies between roughly 10-18 Hz and 10-8 Hz (between H0 and 1/3 yr-1), which overlaps and bridges the pulsar timing and CMB polarization regimes. We present the methods and results of two complementary approaches to astrometric gravitational wave detection: (1) a small ~500-object radio interferometric sample with low per-source proper motion uncertainty but large intrinsic proper motions caused by radio jets, and (2) a thousand-fold larger sample with large per-source uncertainties that has small intrinsic proper motions (Gaia active galactic nuclei). Both approaches produce limits on ΩGW, the energy density of gravitational waves as a fraction of the cosmological critical energy density.The authors acknowledge support from the NSF grant AST-1411605 and the NASA grant 14-ATP14-0086.

  8. Cresting the wave: proper motions of the Eastern Banded Structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deason, Alis J.; Belokurov, Vasily; Koposov, Sergey E.

    2018-01-01

    We study the kinematic properties of the Eastern Banded Structure (EBS) and Hydra I overdensity using exquisite proper motions derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and Gaia source catalogue. Main sequence turn-off stars in the vicinity of the EBS are identified from SDSS photometry; we use the proper motions and, where applicable, spectroscopic measurements of these stars to probe the kinematics of this apparent stream. We find that the EBS and Hydra I share common kinematic and chemical properties with the nearby Monoceros Ring. In particular, the proper motions of the EBS, like Monoceros, are indicative of prograde rotation (Vϕ ∼ 180-220 km s-1), which is similar to the Galactic thick disc. The kinematic structure of stars in the vicinity of the EBS suggests that it is not a distinct stellar stream, but rather marks the 'edge' of the Monoceros Ring. The EBS and Hydra I are the latest substructures to be linked with Monoceros, leaving the Galactic anti-centre a mess of interlinked overdensities which likely share a unified, Galactic disc origin.

  9. Grs 1915+105: a superluminal source in the Galaxy.

    PubMed Central

    Rodríguez, L F; Mirabel, I F

    1995-01-01

    We present the results of additional observations of the high energy source GRS 1915+105, which produces ejecta with apparent superluminal motions. The observations reported here were carried out with the Very Large Array at 3.5 cm and 20 cm. The 3.5-cm observations made during 1994 May allowed us to continue following the proper motions of the bright 1994 March 19 ejecta, as well as those of a subsequent, fainter ejection. The proper motions of the 1994 March 19 ejecta continued to be ballistic (i.e., constant) over the period of about 75 days where they remained detectable. From the observations in 1994 March-May we have identified three ejections of pairs of plasma clouds moving ballistically in approximately the same direction on the sky with similar proper motions. The 20-cm observations made during 1994 November and December were used to search, yet unsuccessfully, for extended jets or lobes associated with GRS 1915+105. PMID:11607605

  10. Constraining the radio jet proper motion of the high-redshift quasar J2134-0419 at z = 4.3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Perger, Krisztina; Frey, Sándor; Gabányi, Krisztina É.; An, Tao; Britzen, Silke; Cao, Hong-Min; Cseh, Dávid; Dennett-Thorpe, Jane; Gurvits, Leonid I.; Hong, Xiao-Yu; Hook, Isobel M.; Paragi, Zsolt; Schilizzi, Richard T.; Yang, Jun; Zhang, Yingkang

    2018-06-01

    To date, PMN J2134-0419 (at a redshift z = 4.33) is the second most distant quasar known with a milliarcsecond-scale morphology permitting direct estimates of the jet proper motion. Based on two-epoch observations, we constrained its radio jet proper motion using the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) technique. The observations were conducted with the European VLBI Network (EVN) at 5 GHz on 1999 November 26 and 2015 October 6. We imaged the central 10-pc scale radio jet emission and modelled its brightness distribution. By identifying a jet component at both epochs separated by 15.86 yr, a proper motion of μ = 0.035 ± 0.023 mas yr-1 is found. It corresponds to an apparent superluminal speed of βa = 4.1 ± 2.7 c. Relativistic beaming at both epochs suggests that the jet viewing angle with respect to the line of sight is smaller than 20°, with a minimum bulk Lorentz factor Γ = 4.3. The small value of the proper motion is in good agreement with the expectations from the cosmological interpretation of the redshift and the current cosmological model. Additionally we analysed archival Very Large Array observations of J2143-0419 and found indication of a bent jet extending to ˜30 kpc.

  11. Second epoch of simultaneous lambda 3.6 and lambda 13 cm observations of the pair of quasars 1038+528 A,B

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Marcaide, J. M.; Bartel, N.; Gorenstein, M. V.; Bonometti, R. J.; Corey, B. E.; Cotton, W. D.; Preston, R. A.

    1988-01-01

    It is found that the quasar 1038+528 B is a good reference for studying the internal motions in quasar 1038+528 A. The apparent superluminal motion of a feature in quasar A takes place with respect to a neary stationary core; its proper motion is bounded from above by about 40 micro-as/yr. The wavelength dependence of the location of the core brightness peak of A is confirmed.

  12. Effects of cytoskeletal disruption on transport, structure, and rheology within mammalian cells

    PubMed Central

    Weihs, Daphne; Mason, Thomas G.; Teitell, Michael A.

    2009-01-01

    Quantification of cellular responses to stimuli is challenging. Cells respond to changing external conditions through internal structural and compositional and functional modifications, thereby altering their transport and mechanical properties. By properly interpreting particle-tracking microrheology, we evaluate the response of live cells to cytoskeletal disruption mediated by the drug nocodazole. Prior to administering the drug, the particles exhibit an apparently diffusive behavior that is actually a combination of temporally heterogeneous ballistic and caged motion. Selectively depolymerizing microtubules with the drug causes actively crawling cells to halt, providing a means for assessing drug efficacy, and making the caged motion of the probes readily apparent. PMID:19816550

  13. “Real-Time” Cosmology with Extragalactic Proper Motions: the Secular Aberration Drift and Evolution of Large-Scale Structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Truebenbach, Alexandra; Darling, Jeremy

    2018-01-01

    We present the VLBA Extragalactic Proper Motion Catalog, a catalog of extragalactic proper motions created using archival VLBI data and our own VLBA astrometry. The catalog contains 713 proper motions, with average uncertainties of ~ 24 microarcsec/yr, including 40 new or improved proper motion measurements using relative astrometry with the VLBA. We detect the secular aberration drift – the apparent motion of extragalactic objects caused by the solar system's acceleration around the Galactic Center – at 6.3 sigma significance with an amplitude of 1.69 +/- 0.27 microarcsec/yr and an apex consistent with the Galactic Center (275.2 +/- 10.0 deg, -29.4 +/- 8.8 deg). Our dipole model detects the aberration drift at a higher significance than some previous studies (e.g., Titov & Lambert 2013), but at a lower amplitude than expected or previously measured. We then use the correlated relative proper motions of extragalactic objects to place upper limits on the rate of large-scale structure collapse (e.g., Quercellini et al. 2009; Darling 2013). Pairs of small separation objects that are in gravitationally interacting structures such as filaments of large-scale structure will show a net decrease in angular separation (> - 15.5 microarcsec/yr) as they move towards each other, while pairs of large separation objects that are gravitationally unbound and move with the Hubble expansion will show no net change in angular separation. With our catalog, we place a 3 sigma limit on the rate of convergence of large-scale structure of -11.4 microarcsec/yr for extragalactic objects within 100 comoving Mpc of each other. We also confirm that large separation objects (> 800 comoving Mpc) move with the Hubble flow to within ~ 2.2 microarcsec/yr. In the future, we plan to incorporate the upcoming Gaia proper motions into our catalog to achieve a higher precision measurement of the average relative proper motion of gravitationally interacting extragalactic objects and to refine our measurement of the collapse of large-scale structure. This research was performed with support from the NSF grant AST-1411605.Darling, J. 2013, AJ, 777, L21; Quercellini et al. 2009. Phys. Rev. Lett., 102, 151302; Titov, O. & Lambert, S. 2013, A&A, 559, A95

  14. VLBI2020: From Reality to Vision

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Titov, Oleg

    2010-01-01

    The individual apparent motions of distant radio sources are believed to be caused by the effect of intrinsic structure variations of the active galactic nuclei (AGN). However, some cosmological models of the expanded Universe predict that systematic astrometric proper motions of distant quasars do not vanish as the radial distance from the observer to the quasar grows. These systematic effects can even increase with the distance, making it possible to measure them with high-precision astrometric techniques like VLBI. The Galactocentric acceleration of the Solar System barycenter may cause a secular aberration drift with a magnitude of 4 uas/yr. The Solar System motion relative to the cosmic microwave background produces an additional dipole effect, proportional to red shift. We analyzed geodetic VLBI data spanning from 1979 until 2009 to estimate the vector spherical harmonics in the expansion of the vector field of the proper motion of 687 radio sources. The dipole and quadrupole vector spherical harmonics were estimated with an accuracy of 1-5 as/yr. We have shown that over the next decade the geodetic VLBI may approach the level of accuracy on which the cosmological models of the Universe could be tested. Hence, it is important to organize a dedicated observational program to increase the number of measured proper motions to 3000.

  15. Evidence That the Directly Imaged Planet HD 131399 Ab Is a Background Star

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nielsen, Eric L.; De Rosa, Robert J.; Rameau, Julien; Wang, Jason J.; Esposito, Thomas M.; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; Marois, Christian; Vigan, Arthur; Ammons, S. Mark; Artigau, Etienne; Bailey, Vanessa P.; Blunt, Sarah; Bulger, Joanna; Chilcote, Jeffrey; Cotten, Tara; Doyon, René; Duchêne, Gaspard; Fabrycky, Daniel; Fitzgerald, Michael P.; Follette, Katherine B.; Gerard, Benjamin L.; Goodsell, Stephen J.; Graham, James R.; Greenbaum, Alexandra Z.; Hibon, Pascale; Hinkley, Sasha; Hung, Li-Wei; Ingraham, Patrick; Jensen-Clem, Rebecca; Kalas, Paul; Konopacky, Quinn; Larkin, James E.; Macintosh, Bruce; Maire, Jérôme; Marchis, Franck; Metchev, Stanimir; Morzinski, Katie M.; Murray-Clay, Ruth A.; Oppenheimer, Rebecca; Palmer, David; Patience, Jennifer; Perrin, Marshall; Poyneer, Lisa; Pueyo, Laurent; Rafikov, Roman R.; Rajan, Abhijith; Rantakyrö, Fredrik T.; Ruffio, Jean-Baptiste; Savransky, Dmitry; Schneider, Adam C.; Sivaramakrishnan, Anand; Song, Inseok; Soummer, Remi; Thomas, Sandrine; Wallace, J. Kent; Ward-Duong, Kimberly; Wiktorowicz, Sloane; Wolff, Schuyler

    2017-12-01

    We present evidence that the recently discovered, directly imaged planet HD 131399 Ab is a background star with nonzero proper motion. From new JHK1L‧ photometry and spectroscopy obtained with the Gemini Planet Imager, VLT/SPHERE, and Keck/NIRC2, and a reanalysis of the discovery data obtained with VLT/SPHERE, we derive colors, spectra, and astrometry for HD 131399 Ab. The broader wavelength coverage and higher data quality allow us to reinvestigate its status. Its near-infrared spectral energy distribution excludes spectral types later than L0 and is consistent with a K or M dwarf, which are the most likely candidates for a background object in this direction at the apparent magnitude observed. If it were a physically associated object, the projected velocity of HD 131399 Ab would exceed escape velocity given the mass and distance to HD 131399 A. We show that HD 131399 Ab is also not following the expected track for a stationary background star at infinite distance. Solving for the proper motion and parallax required to explain the relative motion of HD 131399 Ab, we find a proper motion of 12.3 mas yr-1. When compared to predicted background objects drawn from a galactic model, we find this proper motion to be high but consistent with the top 4% fastest-moving background stars. From our analysis, we conclude that HD 131399 Ab is a background K or M dwarf.

  16. The physical properties of double degenerate common proper motion binaries

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sion, Edward M.; Oswalt, Terry D.; Liebert, James; Hintzen, Paul

    1991-01-01

    Spectral types and spectrophotometry are presented for 21 double degenerate (DD) common proper motion binaries, along with estimates of their colors, absolute visual and bolometric magnitudes, and cooling ages. The oldest pairs in the sample are 9 x 10 to the 9th yr; the differential cooling ages range from 0.01 to 0.84. The median and mean separations of the DD pairs are 426 and 407 Au, respectively, both apparently smaller than the WD+MS values. The average UVW motions and velocity dispersions are significantly larger than the average velocities and dispersions associated with selected samples of single white dwarfs and MS+WD binaries when the latter are restricted to the same color/Mv range as the DD systems. This may be a result of the dynamical inflation of the velocity dispersion of DD systems due to their extremely ancient total stellar ages.

  17. Proper Motion of the Compact, Nonthermal Radio Source in the Galactic Center, Sagittarius A*

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Backer, D. C.; Sramek, R. A.

    1999-10-01

    Proper motions and radial velocities of luminous infrared stars in the Galactic center have provided strong evidence for a dark mass of 2.5×106 Msolar in the central 0.05 pc of the Galaxy. The leading hypothesis for this mass is a black hole. High angular resolution measurements at radio wavelengths find a compact radio source, Sagittarius (Sgr) A*, that is either the faint glow from a small amount of material accreting onto the hole with low radiative efficiency or a miniature active galactic nucleus (AGN) core-jet system. This paper provides a full report on the first program that has measured the apparent proper motion of Sgr A* with respect to background extragalactic reference frame. Our current result isμl,*=[-6.18+/-0.19] mas yr-1 μb,*=[-0.65+/-0.17] mas yr-1 . The observations were obtained with the NRAO Very Large Array at 4.9 GHz over 16 yr. The proper motion of Sgr A* provides an estimate of its mass based on equipartition of kinetic energy between the hole and the surrounding stars. The measured motion is largest in galactic longitude. This component of the motion is consistent with the secular parallax that results from the rotation of the solar system about the center, which is a global measure of the difference between Oort's constants (A-B), with no additional peculiar motion of Sgr A*. The current uncertainty in Oort's galactic rotation constants limits the use of this component of the proper motion for a mass inference. In latitude, we find a small, and weakly significant, peculiar motion of Sgr A*, -19+/-7 km s-1 after correction for the motion of the solar system with respect to the local standard of rest. We consider sources of peculiar motion of Sgr A* ranging from unstable radio wave propagation through intervening turbulent plasma to the effects of asymmetric masses in the center. These fail to account for a significant peculiar motion. One can appeal to an m=1 dynamical instability that numerical simulations have revealed. However, the measurement of a latitude peculiar proper motion of comparable magnitude and error but with opposite sign in the companion paper by Reid leads us to conclude at the present time that our errors may be underestimated and that the actual peculiar motion might therefore be closer to zero. Improvement of these measurements with further observations and resolving the differences between independent experiments will provide the accuracies of a few km s-1 in both coordinates that will provide both a black hole mass estimate and a definitive determination of Oort's galactic rotation constants on a global Galactic scale.

  18. Activity-Dependence of Synaptic Vesicle Dynamics

    PubMed Central

    Forte, Luca A.

    2017-01-01

    The proper function of synapses relies on efficient recycling of synaptic vesicles. The small size of synaptic boutons has hampered efforts to define the dynamical states of vesicles during recycling. Moreover, whether vesicle motion during recycling is regulated by neural activity remains largely unknown. We combined nanoscale-resolution tracking of individual synaptic vesicles in cultured hippocampal neurons from rats of both sexes with advanced motion analyses to demonstrate that the majority of recently endocytosed vesicles undergo sequences of transient dynamical states including epochs of directed, diffusional, and stalled motion. We observed that vesicle motion is modulated in an activity-dependent manner, with dynamical changes apparent in ∼20% of observed boutons. Within this subpopulation of boutons, 35% of observed vesicles exhibited acceleration and 65% exhibited deceleration, accompanied by corresponding changes in directed motion. Individual vesicles observed in the remaining ∼80% of boutons did not exhibit apparent dynamical changes in response to stimulation. More quantitative transient motion analyses revealed that the overall reduction of vesicle mobility, and specifically of the directed motion component, is the predominant activity-evoked change across the entire bouton population. Activity-dependent modulation of vesicle mobility may represent an important mechanism controlling vesicle availability and neurotransmitter release. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Mechanisms governing synaptic vesicle dynamics during recycling remain poorly understood. Using nanoscale resolution tracking of individual synaptic vesicles in hippocampal synapses and advanced motion analysis tools we demonstrate that synaptic vesicles undergo complex sets of dynamical states that include epochs of directed, diffusive, and stalled motion. Most importantly, our analyses revealed that vesicle motion is modulated in an activity-dependent manner apparent as the reduction in overall vesicle mobility in response to stimulation. These results define the vesicle dynamical states during recycling and reveal their activity-dependent modulation. Our study thus provides fundamental new insights into the principles governing synaptic function. PMID:28954868

  19. AN HST PROPER-MOTION STUDY OF THE LARGE-SCALE JET OF 3C273

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Meyer, Eileen T.; Georganopoulos, Markos; Sparks, William B.

    The radio galaxy 3C 273 hosts one of the nearest and best-studied powerful quasar jets. Having been imaged repeatedly by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) over the past twenty years, it was chosen for an HST program to measure proper motions in the kiloparsec-scale resolved jets of nearby radio-loud active galaxies. The jet in 3C 273 is highly relativistic on sub-parsec scales, with apparent proper motions up to 15c observed by very long baseline interferometry. In contrast, we find that the kiloparsec-scale knots are compatible with being stationary, with a mean speed of −0.2 ± 0.5c over the whole jet. Assuming themore » knots are packets of moving plasma, an upper limit of 1c implies a bulk Lorentz factor Γ < 2.9. This suggests that the jet has either decelerated significantly by the time it reaches the kiloparsec scale, or that the knots in the jet are standing shock features. The second scenario is incompatible with the inverse Compton off the Cosmic Microwave Background (IC/CMB) model for the X-ray emission of these knots, which requires the knots to be in motion, but IC/CMB is also disfavored in the first scenario due to energetic considerations, in agreement with the recent finding of Meyer and Georganopoulos which ruled out the IC/CMB model for the X-ray emission of 3C 273 via gamma-ray upper limits.« less

  20. Proper motion separation of Be star candidates in the Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vieira, Katherine; García-Varela, Alejandro; Sabogal, Beatriz

    2017-08-01

    We present a proper motion investigation of a sample of Be star candidates towards the Magellanic Clouds, which has resulted in the identification of separate populations, in the Galactic foreground and in the Magellanic background. Be stars are broadly speaking B-type stars that have shown emission lines in their spectra. In this work, we studied a sample of 2446 and 1019 Be star candidates towards the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), respectively, taken from the literature and proposed as possible Be stars due to their variability behaviour in the OGLE-II I band. JHKs magnitudes from the InfraRed Survey Facility catalogue and proper motions from the Southern Proper Motion 4 catalogue were obtained for 1188 and 619 LMC and SMC Be stars candidates, respectively. Colour-colour and vector-point diagrams were used to identify different populations amongst the Be star candidates. In the LMC sample, two populations with distinctive infrared colours and kinematics were found, the bluer sample is consistent with being in the LMC and the redder one with belonging to the Milky Way disc. This settles the nature of the redder sample that had been described in previous publications as a possible unknown subclass of stars amongst the Be candidates in the LMC. In the SMC sample, a similar but less evident result was obtained, since this apparent unknown subclass was not seen in this galaxy. We confirm that in the selection of Be stars by their variability, although generally successful, there is a higher risk of contamination by Milky Way objects towards redder B - V and V - I colours.

  1. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Common proper motion stars in the Kepler field (Janes, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Janes, K. A.

    2017-08-01

    In a search of proper motion catalogs for common proper motion stars in the field of the Kepler spacecraft I identified 93 likely binary systems. A comparison of their rotation periods is a test of the gyrochronology concept. To find their periods I calculated the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the Kepler mission photometry for each star. In most systems for which good periods can be found, the cooler star has a longer period than the hotter component, in general agreement with models. However, there is a wide range in the gradients of lines connecting binary pairs in a period-color diagram. Furthermore, near the solar color, only a few stars have longer periods than the Sun, suggesting that they, and their cooler companions, are not much older than the Sun. In addition, there is an apparent gap at intermediate periods in the period distribution of the late K and early M stars. Either star formation in this direction has been variable, or stars evolve in period at a non-uniform rate, or some stars evolve more rapidly than others at the same mass. Finally, using the ACF as a measure of the activity level, I found that while the F, G, and early K stars become less active as their periods increase, there is no correlation between period and activity for the mid K to early M stars. (1 data file).

  2. Fundamental Principles of Proper Space Kinematics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wade, Sean

    It is desirable to understand the movement of both matter and energy in the universe based upon fundamental principles of space and time. Time dilation and length contraction are features of Special Relativity derived from the observed constancy of the speed of light. Quantum Mechanics asserts that motion in the universe is probabilistic and not deterministic. While the practicality of these dissimilar theories is well established through widespread application inconsistencies in their marriage persist, marring their utility, and preventing their full expression. After identifying an error in perspective the current theories are tested by modifying logical assumptions to eliminate paradoxical contradictions. Analysis of simultaneous frames of reference leads to a new formulation of space and time that predicts the motion of both kinds of particles. Proper Space is a real, three-dimensional space clocked by proper time that is undergoing a densification at the rate of c. Coordinate transformations to a familiar object space and a mathematical stationary space clarify the counterintuitive aspects of Special Relativity. These symmetries demonstrate that within the local universe stationary observers are a forbidden frame of reference; all is in motion. In lieu of Quantum Mechanics and Uncertainty the use of the imaginary number i is restricted for application to the labeling of mass as either material or immaterial. This material phase difference accounts for both the perceived constant velocity of light and its apparent statistical nature. The application of Proper Space Kinematics will advance more accurate representations of microscopic, oscopic, and cosmological processes and serve as a foundation for further study and reflection thereafter leading to greater insight.

  3. An All-Sky Search for Wide Binaries in the SUPERBLINK Proper Motion Catalog

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hartman, Zachary; Lepine, Sebastien

    2017-01-01

    We present initial results from an all-sky search for Common Proper Motion (CPM) binaries in the SUPERBLINK all-sky proper motion catalog of 2.8 million stars with proper motions greater than 40 mas/yr, which has been recently enhanced with data from the GAIA mission. We initially search the SUPERBLINK catalog for pairs of stars with angular separations up to 1 degree and proper motion difference less than 40 mas/yr. In order to determine which of these pairs are real binaries, we develop a Bayesian analysis to calculate probabilities of true companionship based on a combination of proper motion magnitude, angular separation, and proper motion differences. The analysis reveals that the SUPERBLINK catalog most likely contains ~40,000 genuine common proper motion binaries. We provide initial estimates of the distances and projected physical separations of these wide binaries.

  4. The UKIDSS-2MASS proper motion survey - I. Ultracool dwarfs from UKIDSS DR4

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deacon, N. R.; Hambly, N. C.; King, R. R.; McCaughrean, M. J.

    2009-04-01

    The UK Infrared Telescope Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) is the first of a new generation of infrared surveys. Here, we combine the data from two UKIDSS components, the Large Area Survey (LAS) and the Galactic Cluster Survey (GCS), with Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) data to produce an infrared proper motion survey for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. In total, we detect 267 low-mass stars and brown dwarfs with significant proper motions. We recover all 10 known single L dwarfs and the one known T dwarf above the 2MASS detection limit in our LAS survey area and identify eight additional new candidate L dwarfs. We also find one new candidate L dwarf in our GCS sample. Our sample also contains objects from 11 potential common proper motion binaries. Finally, we test our proper motions and find that while the LAS objects have proper motions consistent with absolute proper motions, the GCS stars may have proper motions which are significantly underestimated. This is possibly due to the bulk motion of some of the local astrometric reference stars used in the proper motion determination.

  5. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Kinematic data for stars in OB-associations (Melnik+, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Melnik, A. M.; Dambis, A. K.

    2017-10-01

    Table 1 gives the coordinates and kinematic parameters for OB-associations from the list by Blaha and Humphreys (1989AJ.....98.1598B). It presents the average Galactic coordinates l and b, the average heliocentric distance r, the total number of stars with known photometric measurements, Nt, used for determination of the distance for an OB-association. The distance r is equal to the distance from the catalog by Blaha and Humphreys, rBH, multiplied by a factor of 0.8, r=0.8*rBH. Table 1 also lists the median line-of-sight velocities Vr of OB-associations, the dispersions of line-of-sight velocities, sigma_vr, and the number of stars with known line-of-sight velocity nvr in an OB-association. The line-of-sight velocities of individual stars were taken from the catalog by Barbier-Brossat and Figon (1999, Cat. III/213). We used only the velocities measured with errors of less than 10 km/s which corresponds to the quality estimations A, B, C and D. We also present the median proper motions of OB-associations along l- and b-coordinates, mul and mub, derived from stellar proper motions taken from the catalog TGAS (2016, Cat. I/337), the dispersions of proper motions, sigma_mul and sigma_mub, as well as a number of stars, nmu, with known TGAS proper motions. Table 2 gives the spectral, photometric and kinematic data for stars in OB-associations. It presents the name of a star, the name of the OB-association to which it is assigned by Blaha and Humphreys (1989), spectral type of the star, code of its luminosity class cL: 2 - Ia, 4 - Iab, 6 - Ib, 8 - II, 10 - III, 12 - IV, 14 - V, where the corresponding odd numbers (1, 3,..., 13) reflect the uncertainty in its determination. Table 2 also shows the Galactic coordinates l and b of a star, the heliocentric distance r to its assigned OB-association, the line-of-sight velocity of the star Vr, if available, and its error evr taken from the catalog Barbier-Brossat and Figon (1999, Cat. III/213). Table 2 gives the Hipparcos number HIP (1997, Cat. I/239) of the star, TGAS proper motions, mul and mub, if available, and their errors (2016, Cat. I/337). If a Hipparcos star is absent in the TGAS catalog, then we give its Hipparcos proper motions and their errors (1997, Cat. I/239); flag F indicates the source of proper motions: 'G' means TGAS and 'H' - Hipparcos. Table 2 also presents color indexes B-V and U-B, apparent and absolute magnitudes, mv and Mv, and the V-band extinction, Av, adopted from the catalog by Blaha and Humphreys (1989AJ.....98.1598B). (2 data files).

  6. On the Hipparcos Link to the ICRF derived from VLA and MERLIN radio astrometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hering, R.; Walter, H. G.

    2007-06-01

    Positions and proper motions obtained from observations by the very large array (VLA) and the multi-element radio-linked interferometer network (MERLIN) are used to establish the link of the Hipparcos Celestial Reference Frame (HCRF) to the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF). The VLA and MERLIN data are apparently the latest ones published in the literature. Their mean epoch at around 2001 is about 10 years after the epoch of the Hipparcos catalogue and, therefore, the data are considered suitable to check the Hipparcos link established at epoch 1991.25. The parameters of the link, i.e., the angles of frame orientation and the angular rates of frame rotation, are estimated by fitting these parameters to the differences of the optical and radio positions and proper motions of stars common to the Hipparcos catalogue and the VLA and MERLIN data. Both the estimates of the angles of orientation and the angular rates of rotation show nearly consistent but insignificant results for all samples of stars treated. We conclude that not only the size of the samples of 9 15 stars is too small, but also that the accuracy of the radio positions and, above all, of the radio proper motions is insufficient, the latter being based on early-epoch star positions of low accuracy. The present observational data at epoch 2001 suggest that maintenance of the Hipparcos frame is not feasible at this stage.

  7. Probing the Galactic Potential with Next-generation Observations of Disk Stars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sumi, T.; Johnston, K. V.; Tremaine, S.; Spergel, D. N.; Majewski, S. R.

    2009-07-01

    Our current knowledge of the rotation curve of the Milky Way is remarkably poor compared to other galaxies, limited by the combined effects of extinction and the lack of large samples of stars with good distance estimates and proper motions. Near-future surveys promise a dramatic improvement in the number and precision of astrometric, photometric, and spectroscopic measurements of stars in the Milky Way's disk. We examine the impact of such surveys on our understanding of the Galaxy by "observing" particle realizations of nonaxisymmetric disk distributions orbiting in an axisymmetric halo with appropriate errors and then attempting to recover the underlying potential using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach. We demonstrate that the azimuthally averaged gravitational force field in the Galactic plane—and hence, to a lesser extent, the Galactic mass distribution—can be tightly constrained over a large range of radii using a variety of types of surveys so long as the error distribution of the measurements of the parallax, proper motion, and radial velocity are well understood and the disk is surveyed globally. One advantage of our method is that the target stars can be selected nonrandomly in real or apparent-magnitude space to ensure just such a global sample without biasing the results. Assuming that we can always measure the line-of-sight velocity of a star with at least 1 km s-1 precision, we demonstrate that the force field can be determined to better than ~1% for Galactocentric radii in the range R = 4-20 kpc using either: (1) small samples (a few hundred stars) with very accurate trigonometric parallaxes and good proper-motion measurements (uncertainties δ p,tri lsim 10 μas and δμ lsim 100 μas yr-1 respectively); (2) modest samples (~1000 stars) with good indirect parallax estimates (e.g., uncertainty in photometric parallax δ p,phot~ 10%-20%) and good proper-motion measurements (δμ ~ 100 μas yr-1) or (3) large samples (~104 stars) with good indirect parallax estimates and lower accuracy proper-motion measurements (δμ~ 1 mas yr-1). We conclude that near-future surveys, like Space Interferometry Mission Lite, Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics, and VERA, will provide the first precise mapping of the gravitational force field in the region of the Galactic disk.

  8. A new UKIDSS proper motion survey and key early results, including new benchmark systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, L.; Lucas, P.; Burningham, B.; Jones, H.; Pinfield, D.; Smart, R.; Andrei, A.

    We present a proper motion catalogue for the 1500 deg2 of 2 epoch J-band UKIDSS Large Area Survey (LAS) data, which includes 120,000 stellar sources with motions detected above the 5sigma level. Our upper limit on proper motion detection is 3\\farcs3 yr-1 and typical uncertainties are of order 10 mas yr-1 for bright sources from data with a modest 1.8-7.0 year epoch baseline. We developed a bespoke proper motion pipeline which applies a source-unique second order polynomial transformation to UKIDSS array coordinates to counter potential local non-uniformity in the focal plane. Our catalogue agrees well with the proper motion data supplied in the current WFCAM Science Archive (WSA) tenth data release (DR10) catalogue where there is overlap, and in various optical catalogues, but it benefits from some improvements, such as a larger matching radius and relative to absolute proper motion correction. We present proper motion results for 128 T dwarfs in the UKIDSS LAS and key early results of projects utilising our catalogue, in particular searches for brown dwarf benchmark systems through cross matches with existing proper motion catalogues. We report the discovery of two new T dwarf benchmark systems.

  9. Determination of proper motions in the Pleiades cluster

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schilbach, E.

    1991-04-01

    For 458 stars in the Pleiades field from the catalog of Eichhorn et al. (1970) proper motions were derived on Tautenburg and CERGA Schmidt telescope plates measured with the automated measuring machine MAMA in Paris. The catalog positions were considered as first epoch coordinates with an epoch difference of ca. 33 years to the observations. The results show good coincidence of proper motions derived with both Schmidt telescopes within the error bars. Comparison with proper motions determined by Vasilevskis et al. (1979) displays some significant differences but no systematic effects depending on plate coordinates or magnitudes could be found. An accuracy of 0.3 arcsec/100a for one proper motion component was estimated. According to the criterion of common proper motion 34 new cluster members were identified.

  10. The Solar Neighborhood. XXV. Discovery of New Proper Motion Stars with 0.40 sec/yr mu or = 0.18 sec/yr Between Declinations -47 deg and 00 deg

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-07-01

    that the object was indeed a proper motion object. For real ob- jects, Two Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ) positions, epochs, and JHKs photometry were...and vice versa, and to ensure the correct 2MASS data were collected. The blinking process led to the discovery of many common proper motion (CPM...Proper motion or position angle suspect. f No 2MASS data available, so no distance estimate. g Coordinates not J2000.0 due to lack of proper motion or

  11. Impact of quasar proper motions on the alignment between the International Celestial Reference Frame and the Gaia reference frame

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, J.-C.; Malkin, Z.; Zhu, Z.

    2018-03-01

    The International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) is currently realized by the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of extragalactic sources with the zero proper motion assumption, while Gaia will observe proper motions of these distant and faint objects to an accuracy of tens of microarcseconds per year. This paper investigates the difference between VLBI and Gaia quasar proper motions and it aims to understand the impact of quasar proper motions on the alignment of the ICRF and Gaia reference frame. We use the latest time series data of source coordinates from the International VLBI Service analysis centres operated at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSF2017) and Paris observatory (OPA2017), as well as the Gaia auxiliary quasar solution containing 2191 high-probability optical counterparts of the ICRF2 sources. The linear proper motions in right ascension and declination of VLBI sources are derived by least-squares fits while the proper motions for Gaia sources are simulated taking into account the acceleration of the Solar system barycentre and realistic uncertainties depending on the source brightness. The individual and global features of source proper motions in GSF2017 and OPA2017 VLBI data are found to be inconsistent, which may result from differences in VLBI observations, data reduction and analysis. A comparison of the VLBI and Gaia proper motions shows that the accuracies of the components of rotation and glide between the two systems are 2-4 μas yr- 1 based on about 600 common sources. For the future alignment of the ICRF and Gaia reference frames at different wavelengths, the proper motions of quasars must necessarily be considered.

  12. Pre-Hawking radiation cannot prevent the formation of apparent horizon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Pisin; Unruh, William G.; Wu, Chih-Hung; Yeom, Dong-Han

    2018-03-01

    As an attempt to solve the black hole information loss paradox, recently there has been the suggestion that, due to semiclassical effects, a pre-Hawking radiation must exist during the gravitational collapse of matter, which in turn prevents the apparent horizon from forming. Assuming the pre-Hawking radiation does exist, here we argue the opposite. First we note that the stress energy tensor near the horizon for the pre-Hawking radiation is far too small to do anything to the motion of a collapsing shell. Thus the shell will always cross the apparent horizon within a finite proper time. Moreover, the amount of energy that can be radiated must be less than half of the total initial energy (if the particle starts at rest at infinity) before the shell becomes a null shell and cannot radiate any more without becoming tachyonic. We conclude that for any gravitational collapsing process within Einstein gravity and semiclassical quantum field theory, the formation of the apparent horizon is inevitable. Pre-Hawking radiation is therefore not a valid solution to the information paradox.

  13. Pre-Hawking radiation cannot prevent the formation of apparent horizon

    DOE PAGES

    Chen, Pisin; Unruh, William G.; Wu, Chih-Hung; ...

    2018-03-30

    As an attempt to solve the black hole information loss paradox, recently there has been the suggestion that, due to semiclassical effects, a pre-Hawking radiation must exist during the gravitational collapse of matter, which in turn prevents the apparent horizon from forming. Assuming the pre-Hawking radiation does exist, here we argue the opposite. First we note that the stress energy tensor near the horizon for the pre-Hawking radiation is far too small to do anything to the motion of a collapsing shell. Thus the shell will always cross the apparent horizon within a finite proper time. Moreover, the amount ofmore » energy that can be radiated must be less than half of the total initial energy (if the particle starts at rest at infinity) before the shell becomes a null shell and cannot radiate any more without becoming tachyonic. Here, we conclude that for any gravitational collapsing process within Einstein gravity and semiclassical quantum field theory, the formation of the apparent horizon is inevitable. Pre-Hawking radiation is therefore not a valid solution to the information paradox.« less

  14. Pre-Hawking radiation cannot prevent the formation of apparent horizon

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chen, Pisin; Unruh, William G.; Wu, Chih-Hung

    As an attempt to solve the black hole information loss paradox, recently there has been the suggestion that, due to semiclassical effects, a pre-Hawking radiation must exist during the gravitational collapse of matter, which in turn prevents the apparent horizon from forming. Assuming the pre-Hawking radiation does exist, here we argue the opposite. First we note that the stress energy tensor near the horizon for the pre-Hawking radiation is far too small to do anything to the motion of a collapsing shell. Thus the shell will always cross the apparent horizon within a finite proper time. Moreover, the amount ofmore » energy that can be radiated must be less than half of the total initial energy (if the particle starts at rest at infinity) before the shell becomes a null shell and cannot radiate any more without becoming tachyonic. Here, we conclude that for any gravitational collapsing process within Einstein gravity and semiclassical quantum field theory, the formation of the apparent horizon is inevitable. Pre-Hawking radiation is therefore not a valid solution to the information paradox.« less

  15. Proper-motion Study of the Magellanic Clouds Using SPM Material

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vieira, Katherine; Girard, Terrence M.; van Altena, William F.; Zacharias, Norbert; Casetti-Dinescu, Dana I.; Korchagin, Vladimir I.; Platais, Imants; Monet, David G.; López, Carlos E.; Herrera, David; Castillo, Danilo J.

    2010-12-01

    Absolute proper motions are determined for stars and galaxies to V = 17.5 over a 450 deg2 area that encloses both Magellanic Clouds. The proper motions are based on photographic and CCD observations of the Yale/San Juan Southern Proper Motion program, which span a baseline of 40 years. Multiple, local relative proper-motion measures are combined in an overlap solution using photometrically selected Galactic disk stars to define a global relative system that is then transformed to absolute using external galaxies and Hipparcos stars to tie into the ICRS. The resulting catalog of 1.4 million objects is used to derive the mean absolute proper motions of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC); (μαcos δ, μδ)LMC = (1.89, + 0.39) ± (0.27, 0.27) masyr-1 and (μαcos δ, μδ)SMC = (0.98, - 1.01) ± (0.30, 0.29) masyr-1. These mean motions are based on best-measured samples of 3822 LMC stars and 964 SMC stars. A dominant portion (0.25 mas yr-1) of the formal errors is due to the estimated uncertainty in the inertial system of the Hipparcos Catalog stars used to anchor the bright end of our proper motion measures. A more precise determination can be made for the proper motion of the SMC relative to the LMC; (μαcos δ, μδ)SMC-LMC = (-0.91, - 1.49) ± (0.16, 0.15) masyr-1. This differential value is combined with measurements of the proper motion of the LMC taken from the literature to produce new absolute proper-motion determinations for the SMC, as well as an estimate of the total velocity difference of the two clouds to within ±54 km s-1. The absolute proper-motion results are consistent with the Clouds' orbits being marginally bound to the Milky Way, albeit on an elongated orbit. The inferred relative velocity between the Clouds places them near their binding energy limit and, thus, no definitive conclusion can be made as to whether or not the Clouds are bound to one another.

  16. Fixing the reference frame for PPMXL proper motions using extragalactic sources

    DOE PAGES

    Grabowski, Kathleen; Carlin, Jeffrey L.; Newberg, Heidi Jo; ...

    2015-05-27

    In this study, we quantify and correct systematic errors in PPMXL proper motions using extragalactic sources from the first two LAMOST data releases and the Vèron-Cetty & Vèron Catalog of Quasars. Although the majority of the sources are from the Vèron catalog, LAMOST makes important contributions in regions that are not well-sampled by previous catalogs, particularly at low Galactic latitudes and in the south Galactic cap. We show that quasars in PPMXL have measurable and significant proper motions, which reflect the systematic zero-point offsets present in the catalog. We confirm the global proper motion shifts seen by Wu et al.,more » and additionally find smaller-scale fluctuations of the QSO-derived corrections to an absolute frame. Finally, we average the proper motions of 158 106 extragalactic objects in bins of 3° × 3° and present a table of proper motion corrections.« less

  17. A 1500 deg2 near infrared proper motion catalogue from the UKIDSS Large Area Survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, Leigh; Lucas, P. W.; Burningham, B.; Jones, H. R. A.; Smart, R. L.; Andrei, A. H.; Catalán, S.; Pinfield, D. J.

    2014-02-01

    The United Kingdom Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS) began in 2005, with the start of the UKIDSS programme as a 7 year effort to survey roughly 4000 deg2 at high Galactic latitudes in Y, J, H and K bands. The survey also included a significant quantity of two epoch J band observations, with an epoch baseline greater than 2 years to calculate proper motions. We present a near-infrared proper motion catalogue for the 1500 deg2 of the two epoch LAS data, which includes 135 625 stellar sources and a further 88 324 with ambiguous morphological classifications, all with motions detected above the 5σ level. We developed a custom proper motion pipeline which we describe here. Our catalogue agrees well with the proper motion data supplied for a 300 deg2 subset in the current Wide Field Camera Science Archive (WSA) 10th data release (DR10) catalogue, and in various optical catalogues, but it benefits from a larger matching radius and hence a larger upper proper motion detection limit. We provide absolute proper motions, using LAS galaxies for the relative to absolute correction. By using local second-order polynomial transformations, as opposed to linear transformations in the WSA, we correct better for any local distortions in the focal plane, not including the radial distortion that is removed by the UKIDSS pipeline. We present the results of proper motion searches for new brown dwarfs and white dwarfs. We discuss 41 sources in the WSA DR10 overlap with our catalogue with proper motions >300 mas yr-1, several of which are new detections. We present 15 new candidate ultracool dwarf binary systems.

  18. Testing stellar proper motions of TGAS stars using data from the HSOY, UCAC5 and PMA catalogues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fedorov, P. N.; Akhmetov, V. S.; Velichko, A. B.

    2018-05-01

    We analyse the stellar proper motions from the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) and those from the ground-based HSOY, UCAC5 and PMA catalogues derived by combining them with Gaia DR1 space data. Assuming that systematic differences in stellar proper motions of the two catalogues are caused by a mutual rigid-body rotation of the reference catalogue systems, we analyse components of the rotation vector between the systems. We found that the ωy component of the rotation vector is ˜1.5 mas yr-1 and it depends non-linearly on stellar magnitude for the objects of 9.5-11.5 mag used in all three comparisons of the catalogues HSOY, UCAC5 and PMA with respect to TGAS. We found that the Tycho-2 stars in TGAS appeared to have an inexplicable dependence of proper motion on stellar magnitude. We showed that the proper motions of the TGAS stars derived using AGIS differ from those obtained by the conventional (classical) method. Moreover, the application of both methods has not revealed such a difference between the proper motions of the Hipparcos and TGAS stars. An analysis of the systematic differences between the proper motions of the TGAS stars derived by the classical method and the proper motions of the HSOY, UCAC5 and PMA stars shows that the ωy component here does not depend on the magnitude. This indicates unambiguously that there is a magnitude error in the proper motions of the Tycho-2 stars derived with the AGIS.

  19. SAGITTARIUS STREAM THREE-DIMENSIONAL KINEMATICS FROM SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY STRIPE 82

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Koposov, Sergey E.; Belokurov, Vasily; Evans, N. Wyn

    2013-04-01

    Using multi-epoch observations of the Stripe 82 region from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), we measure precise statistical proper motions of the stars in the Sagittarius (Sgr) stellar stream. The multi-band photometry and SDSS radial velocities allow us to efficiently select Sgr members and thus enhance the proper-motion precision to {approx}0.1 mas yr{sup -1}. We measure separately the proper motion of a photometrically selected sample of the main-sequence turn-off stars, as well as spectroscopically selected Sgr giants. The data allow us to determine the proper motion separately for the two Sgr streams in the south found in Koposov etmore » al. Together with the precise velocities from SDSS, our proper motions provide exquisite constraints of the three-dimensional motions of the stars in the Sgr streams.« less

  20. The PMA Catalogue: 420 million positions and absolute proper motions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akhmetov, V. S.; Fedorov, P. N.; Velichko, A. B.; Shulga, V. M.

    2017-07-01

    We present a catalogue that contains about 420 million absolute proper motions of stars. It was derived from the combination of positions from Gaia DR1 and 2MASS, with a mean difference of epochs of about 15 yr. Most of the systematic zonal errors inherent in the 2MASS Catalogue were eliminated before deriving the absolute proper motions. The absolute calibration procedure (zero-pointing of the proper motions) was carried out using about 1.6 million positions of extragalactic sources. The mean formal error of the absolute calibration is less than 0.35 mas yr-1. The derived proper motions cover the whole celestial sphere without gaps for a range of stellar magnitudes from 8 to 21 mag. In the sky areas where the extragalactic sources are invisible (the avoidance zone), a dedicated procedure was used that transforms the relative proper motions into absolute ones. The rms error of proper motions depends on stellar magnitude and ranges from 2-5 mas yr-1 for stars with 10 mag < G < 17 mag to 5-10 mas yr-1 for faint ones. The present catalogue contains the Gaia DR1 positions of stars for the J2015 epoch. The system of the PMA proper motions does not depend on the systematic errors of the 2MASS positions, and in the range from 14 to 21 mag represents an independent realization of a quasi-inertial reference frame in the optical and near-infrared wavelength range. The Catalogue also contains stellar magnitudes taken from the Gaia DR1 and 2MASS catalogues. A comparison of the PMA proper motions of stars with similar data from certain recent catalogues has been undertaken.

  1. OH maser proper motions in Cepheus A

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Migenes, V.; Cohen, R. J.; Brebner, G. C.

    1992-02-01

    MERLIN measurements made between 1982 and 1989 reveal proper motions of OH masers in the source Cepheus A. The proper motions are typically a few milliarcsec per year, and are mainly directed away from the central H II regions. Statistical analysis of the data suggests an expansion time-scale of some 300 yr. The distance of the source implied by the proper motions is 320+140/-80 pc, assuming that the expansion is isotropic. The proper motions can be reconciled with the larger distance of 730 pc which is generally accepted, provided that the masers are moving at large angles to the line of sight. The expansion time-scale agrees with that of the magnetic field decay recently reported by Cohen, et al. (1990).

  2. Detection of visual events along the apparent motion trace in patients with paranoid schizophrenia.

    PubMed

    Sanders, Lia Lira Olivier; Muckli, Lars; de Millas, Walter; Lautenschlager, Marion; Heinz, Andreas; Kathmann, Norbert; Sterzer, Philipp

    2012-07-30

    Dysfunctional prediction in sensory processing has been suggested as a possible causal mechanism in the development of delusions in patients with schizophrenia. Previous studies in healthy subjects have shown that while the perception of apparent motion can mask visual events along the illusory motion trace, such motion masking is reduced when events are spatio-temporally compatible with the illusion, and, therefore, predictable. Here we tested the hypothesis that this specific detection advantage for predictable target stimuli on the apparent motion trace is reduced in patients with paranoid schizophrenia. Our data show that, although target detection along the illusory motion trace is generally impaired, both patients and healthy control participants detect predictable targets more often than unpredictable targets. Patients had a stronger motion masking effect when compared to controls. However, patients showed the same advantage in the detection of predictable targets as healthy control subjects. Our findings reveal stronger motion masking but intact prediction of visual events along the apparent motion trace in patients with paranoid schizophrenia and suggest that the sensory prediction mechanism underlying apparent motion is not impaired in paranoid schizophrenia. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  3. Secular Extragalactic Parallax and Geometric Distances with Gaia Proper Motions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paine, Jennie; Darling, Jeremiah K.

    2018-06-01

    The motion of the Solar System with respect to the cosmic microwave background (CMB) rest frame creates a well measured dipole in the CMB, which corresponds to a linear solar velocity of about 78 AU/yr. This motion causes relatively nearby extragalactic objects to appear to move compared to more distant objects, an effect that can be measured in the proper motions of nearby galaxies. An object at 1 Mpc and perpendicular to the CMB apex will exhibit a secular parallax, observed as a proper motion, of 78 µas/yr. The relatively large peculiar motions of galaxies make the detection of secular parallax challenging for individual objects. Instead, a statistical parallax measurement can be made for a sample of objects with proper motions, where the global parallax signal is modeled as an E-mode dipole that diminishes linearly with distance. We present preliminary results of applying this model to a sample of nearby galaxies with Gaia proper motions to detect the statistical secular parallax signal. The statistical measurement can be used to calibrate the canonical cosmological “distance ladder.”

  4. Figure-ground segregation modulates apparent motion.

    PubMed

    Ramachandran, V S; Anstis, S

    1986-01-01

    We explored the relationship between figure-ground segmentation and apparent motion. Results suggest that: static elements in the surround can eliminate apparent motion of a cluster of dots in the centre, but only if the cluster and surround have similar "grain" or texture; outlines that define occluding surfaces are taken into account by the motion mechanism; the brain uses a hierarchy of precedence rules in attributing motion to different segments of the visual scene. Being designated as "figure" confers a high rank in this scheme of priorities.

  5. MOTION VERIFIED RED STARS (MoVeRS): A CATALOG OF PROPER MOTION SELECTED LOW-MASS STARS FROM WISE, SDSS, AND 2MASS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Theissen, Christopher A.; West, Andrew A.; Dhital, Saurav, E-mail: ctheisse@bu.edu

    2016-02-15

    We present a photometric catalog of 8,735,004 proper motion selected low-mass stars (KML-spectral types) within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) footprint, from the combined SDSS Data Release 10 (DR10), Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) point-source catalog (PSC), and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) AllWISE catalog. Stars were selected using r − i, i − z, r − z, z − J, and z − W1 colors, and SDSS, WISE, and 2MASS astrometry was combined to compute proper motions. The resulting 3,518,150 stars were augmented with proper motions for 5,216,854 earlier type stars from the combined SDSS and United States Naval Observatory B1.0 catalog (USNO-B). We used SDSS+USNO-B proper motionsmore » to determine the best criteria for selecting a clean sample of stars. Only stars whose proper motions were greater than their 2σ uncertainty were included. Our Motion Verified Red Stars catalog is available through SDSS CasJobs and VizieR.« less

  6. Update of membership and mean proper motion of open clusters from UCAC5 catalog

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dias, W. S.; Monteiro, H.; Assafin, M.

    2018-06-01

    We present mean proper motions and membership probabilities of individual stars for optically visible open clusters, which have been determined using data from the UCAC5 catalog. This follows our previous studies with the UCAC2 and UCAC4 catalogs, but now using improved proper motions in the GAIA reference frame. In the present study results were obtained for a sample of 1108 open clusters. For five clusters, this is the first determination of mean proper motion, and for the whole sample, we present results with a much larger number of identified astrometric member stars than on previous studies. It is the last update of our Open cluster Catalog based on proper motion data only. Future updates will count on astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic GAIA data as input for analyses.

  7. Hiding in plain sight

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Riedel, Adric Richard

    2012-05-01

    Since the first successful measurements of stellar trigonometric parallax in the 1830s, the study of nearby stars has focused on the highest proper motion stars (micro > 0.18″ yr-1). Those high proper motion stars have formed the backbone of the last 150 years of study of the Solar Neighborhood and the composition of the Galaxy. Statistically speaking, though, there is a population of stars that will have low proper motions when their space motions have been projected onto the sky. At the same time, over the last twenty years, populations of relatively young stars (less than ˜ 100 Myr), most of them with low proper motions, have been revealed near (< 100 pc) the Sun. This dissertation is the result of two related projects: A photometric search for nearby (< 25pc) southern-hemisphere M dwarf stars with low proper motions (micro < 0.18″ yr-1), and a search for nearby (< 100 pc) pre-main-sequence (< 125 Myr old) M dwarf systems. The projects rely on a variety of photometric, spectroscopic, and astrometric analyses (including parallaxes from our program) using data from telescopes at CTIO via the SMARTS Consortium and at Lowell Observatory. Within this dissertation, I describe the identification and confirmation of 23 new nearby low proper motion M dwarf systems within 25 pc, 8 of which are within 15 pc (50% of the anticipated low-proper-motion 15 pc sample). I also report photometric, spectroscopic, and astrometric parameters and identifications for a selection of 25 known and new candidate nearby young M dwarfs, including new low-mass members of the TW Hydra, beta Pictoris, Tucana-Horologium, Argus, and AB Doradus associations, following the methods of my Riedel et al. (2011) paper and its discovery of AP Col, the closest pre-main-sequence star to the Solar System. These low proper motion and nearby star discoveries are put into the context of the Solar Neighborhood as a whole by means of the new RECONS 25 pc Database, to which I have now added (including my Riedel et al. (2010) paper) 81 star systems (4% of the total). INDEX WORDS: Astronomy, Astrometry, Photometry, Spectroscopy, Kinematics, Proper motion, Parallax, Nearby stars, Low-mass stars, Young stars, Pre-main-sequence stars.

  8. Proper motion of the Draco dwarf galaxy from Subaru Suprime-Cam data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Casetti-Dinescu, Dana I.; Girard, Terrence M.

    2016-09-01

    We have measured the absolute proper motion of the Draco dwarf spheroidal galaxy using Subaru Suprime-Cam images taken at three epochs, with time baselines of 4.4 and 7 yr. The magnitude limit of the proper-motion study is I = 25, thus allowing for thousands of background galaxies and Draco stars to be used to perform extensive astrometric tests and to derive the correction to an inertial reference frame. The derived proper motion is (μα, μδ) = (-0.284 ± 0.047, -0.289 ± 0.041) mas yr-1. This motion implies an orbit that takes Draco to a pericentre of ˜20 kpc; a somewhat disruptive orbit suggesting that tides might account for the rising velocity-dispersion profile of Draco seen in line-of-sight velocity studies. The orbit is only marginally consistent with Draco's membership to the vast polar structure of Galactic satellites, in contrast to a recent Hubble Space Telescope proper-motion measurement that finds alignment very likely. Our study is a test case to demonstrate that deep imaging with mosaic cameras of appropriate resolution can be used for high-accuracy, ground-based proper-motion measurement. As a useful by-product of the study, we also identify two faint brown-dwarf candidates in the foreground field.

  9. Helmet Fit and Cervical Spine Motion in Collegiate Men's Lacrosse Athletes Secured to a Spine Board

    PubMed Central

    Petschauer, Meredith A.; Schmitz, Randy; Gill, Diane L.

    2010-01-01

    Abstract Context: Proper management of cervical spine injuries in men's lacrosse players depends in part upon the ability of the helmet to immobilize the head. Objective: To determine if properly and improperly fitted lacrosse helmets provide adequate stabilization of the head in the spine-boarded athlete. Design: Crossover study. Setting: Sports medicine research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Eighteen healthy collegiate men's lacrosse players. Intervention(s): Participants were asked to move their heads through 3 planes of motion after being secured to a spine board under 3 helmet conditions. Main Outcome Measure(s): Change in range of motion in the cervical spine was calculated for the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes for both head-to-thorax and helmet-to-thorax range of motion in all 3 helmet conditions (properly fitted, improperly fitted, and no helmet). Results: Head-to-thorax range of motion with the properly fitted and improperly fitted helmets was greater than in the no-helmet condition (P < .0001). In the sagittal plane, range of motion was greater with the improperly fitted helmet than with the properly fitted helmet. No difference was observed in helmet-to-thorax range of motion between properly and improperly fitted helmet conditions. Head-to-thorax range of motion was greater than helmet-to-thorax range of motion in all 3 planes (P < .0001). Conclusions: Cervical spine motion was minimized the most in the no-helmet condition, indicating that in lacrosse players, unlike football players, the helmet may need to be removed before stabilization. PMID:20446833

  10. UCAC3 Proper Motion Survey. I. Discovery of New Proper Motion Stars in UCAC3 With 0.40/yr mu 0.18/yr Between Declinations -90 deg and -47 deg

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-09-01

    overlooked during previous SCR and other searches. The Two-Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ) was used to probe for and reduce systematic errors in UCAC CCD...of 50–200 mas, when compared to 2MASS data. For a detailed description of the derived UCAC3 proper motions see Zacharias et al. (2010). An effort was...meeting the declination and proper motion survey limits, all stars (1) must be in the 2MASS catalog with an e2mpho ( 2MASS photometry error) less than

  11. Modelling resonances of the standing body exposed to vertical whole-body vibration: Effects of posture

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Subashi, G. H. M. J.; Matsumoto, Y.; Griffin, M. J.

    2008-10-01

    Lumped parameter mathematical models representing anatomical parts of the human body have been developed to represent body motions associated with resonances of the vertical apparent mass and the fore-and-aft cross-axis apparent mass of the human body standing in five different postures: 'upright', 'lordotic', 'anterior lean', 'knees bent', and 'knees more bent'. The inertial and geometric parameters of the models were determined from published anthropometric data. Stiffness and damping parameters were obtained by comparing model responses with experimental data obtained previously. The principal resonance of the vertical apparent mass, and the first peak in the fore-and-aft cross-axis apparent mass, of the standing body in an upright posture (at 5-6 Hz) corresponded to vertical motion of the viscera in phase with the vertical motion of the entire body due to deformation of the tissues at the soles of the feet, with pitch motion of the pelvis out of phase with pitch motion of the upper body above the pelvis. Upward motion of the body was in phase with the forward pitch motion of the pelvis. Changing the posture of the upper body had minor effects on the mode associated with the principal resonances of the apparent mass and cross-axis apparent mass, but the mode changed significantly with bending of the legs. In legs-bent postures, the principal resonance (at about 3 Hz) was attributed to bending of the legs coupled with pitch motion of the pelvis in phase with pitch motion of the upper body. In this mode, extension of the legs was in phase with the forward pitch motion of the upper body and the upward vertical motion of the viscera.

  12. A dynamical study of the multiple system 17 Cygni ABFG

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Romanenko, L. G.

    2017-03-01

    Adynamical study of the relative motions of the components of the inner pairs AB (ADS 12913) and FG (ADS 12889) of the quadruple heirarchical system 17 Cygni (WDS 19464+3344) is presented, as well as analysis of themotions of the outer pair AB-FG. The study is based on CCD observations obtained on the 26-inch refractor of the Pulkovo Observatory (2003-2013), position observations from the WDS catalog, Hipparcos parallaxes, and radial velocities of the components from literature data. A family of orbits for 17 Cyg AB is obtained for the first time, and has a most probable period of 6200 yrs. The apparent motion parameters (AMP) method is used, since the entire visible arc of the orbit over 1832-2013 is only 4°. The AMP method is also used to calculate the orbit of the 17 Cyg FG pair, which has a period of 238 yrs, yielding results in good agreement with the orbits derived in other studies. The ephemerides of the obtained AMP orbits, the position data for the AF pair from the WDS catalog (11 positions during 1893-2002), and Pulkovo CCD observations for 2007-2013 are used to calculate the apparent motion parameters of AB-FG outer pair, as well as a family of close-to-parabolic orbits with periods of 3.7 million years ormore. All the orbits (for both the inner and the outer pairs) are steeply inclined to theGalactic plane. Monte Carlo simulations are used to compute the probability that the outer pair is gravitationally bound, which is 47%. The similarity of the proper motions and radial velocities of all the components provides evidence that they all belong to a single stellar stream. Data from the CNS3 catalog are used to compose a list of candidate members of this stream.

  13. Attention and apparent motion.

    PubMed

    Horowitz, T; Treisman, A

    1994-01-01

    Two dissociations between short- and long-range motion in visual search are reported. Previous research has shown parallel processing for short-range motion and apparently serial processing for long-range motion. This finding has been replicated and it has also been found that search for short-range targets can be impaired both by using bicontrast stimuli, and by prior adaptation to the target direction of motion. Neither factor impaired search in long-range motion displays. Adaptation actually facilitated search with long-range displays, which is attributed to response-level effects. A feature-integration account of apparent motion is proposed. In this theory, short-range motion depends on specialized motion feature detectors operating in parallel across the display, but subject to selective adaptation, whereas attention is needed to link successive elements when they appear at greater separations, or across opposite contrasts.

  14. Priming with real motion biases visual cortical response to bistable apparent motion

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Qing-fang; Wen, Yunqing; Zhang, Deng; She, Liang; Wu, Jian-young; Dan, Yang; Poo, Mu-ming

    2012-01-01

    Apparent motion quartet is an ambiguous stimulus that elicits bistable perception, with the perceived motion alternating between two orthogonal paths. In human psychophysical experiments, the probability of perceiving motion in each path is greatly enhanced by a brief exposure to real motion along that path. To examine the neural mechanism underlying this priming effect, we used voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) imaging to measure the spatiotemporal activity in the primary visual cortex (V1) of awake mice. We found that a brief real motion stimulus transiently biased the cortical response to subsequent apparent motion toward the spatiotemporal pattern representing the real motion. Furthermore, intracellular recording from V1 neurons in anesthetized mice showed a similar increase in subthreshold depolarization in the neurons representing the path of real motion. Such short-term plasticity in early visual circuits may contribute to the priming effect in bistable visual perception. PMID:23188797

  15. Crab Pulsar Astrometry and Spin-Velocity Alignment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Romani, Roger W.; Ng, C.-Y.

    2009-01-01

    The proper motion of the Crab pulsar and its orientation with respect to the PWN symmetry axis is interesting for testing models of neutron star birth kicks. A number of authors have measured the Crab's motion using archival HST images. The most detailed study by Kaplan et al. (2008) compares a wide range of WFPC and ACS images to obtain an accurate proper motion measurement. However, they concluded that a kick comparison is fundamentally limited by the uncertainty in the progenitor's motion. Here we report on new HST images matched to 1994 and 1995 data frames, providing independent proper motion measurement with over 13 year time base and minimal systematic errors. The new observations also allow us to estimate the systematic errors due to CCD saturation. Our preliminary result indicates a proper motion consistent with Kaplan et al.'s finding. We discuss a model for the progenitor's motion, suggesting that the pulsar spin is much closer to alignment than previously suspected.

  16. Changes in apparent body orientation and sensory localization induced by vibration of postural muscles - Vibratory myesthetic illusions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lackner, J. R.; Levine, M. S.

    1979-01-01

    Human experiments are carried out which support the observation of Goodwin (1973) and Goodwin et al. (1972) that vibration of skeletal muscles can elicit illusory limb motion. These experiments extend the class of possible myesthetic illusions by showing that vibration of the appropriate muscles can produce illusory body motion in nearly any desired direction. Such illusory changes in posture occur only when visual information about body orientation is absent; these changes in apparent posture are sometimes accompanied by a slow-phase nystagmus that compensates for the direction of apparent body motion. During illusory body motion a stationary target light that is fixated will appear to move with the body at the same apparent velocity. However, this pattern of apparent body motion and conjoint visual - defined as propriogyral illusion - is suppressed if the subject is in a fully illuminated environment providing cues about true body orientation. Persuasive evidence is thus provided for the contribution of both muscle afferent and touch-pressure information to the supraspinal mechanisms that determine apparent orientation on the basis of ongoing patterns of interoceptive and exteroceptive activity.

  17. The Proper Motion of the Central Compact Object RX J0822-4300 in the Supernova Remnant Puppis A

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Becker, Werner; Prinz, Tobias; Winkler, P. Frank; Petre, Robert

    2012-01-01

    Using the High Resolution Camera (HRC) aboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory, we have re-examined the proper motion of the central compact object RX J0822-4300 in the supernova remnant Puppis A. New data from 2010 August, combined with three archival data sets from as early as 1999 December, provide a baseline of 3886 days (more than 10 1/2 years) to perform the measurement. Correlating the four positions of RX J0822-4300 measured in each data set implies a projected proper motion of mu = 71 +/- 12 mas/yr. For a distance of 2 kpc this proper motion is equivalent to a recoil velocity of 672 +/- 115 km/s. The position angle is found to be 244 +/- 11 degrees. Both the magnitude and direction of the proper motion are in agreement with RX J0822-4300 originating near the optical expansion center of the supernova remnant. For a displacement of 371 +/- 31 arcsec between its birth place and today's position we deduce an age of (5.2 +/- 1.0) 10(exp 3) yrs for RX J0822-4300. The age inferred from the neutron star proper motion and filament motions can be considered as two independent measurements of the same quantity. They average to 4450 +/- 750 yrs for the age of the supernova remnant Puppis A.

  18. The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. The Catalog of Stellar Proper Motions toward the Magellanic Clouds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Poleski, R.; Soszyński, I.; Udalski, A.; Szymański, M. K.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzyński, G.; Wyrzykowski, Ł.; Ulaczyk, K.

    2012-03-01

    We present a catalog of over 6.2 million stars with measured proper motions. All these stars are observed in the direction of the Magellanic Clouds within the brightness range 12

  19. Radio Measurements of the Stellar Proper Motions in the Core of the Orion Nebula Cluster

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dzib, Sergio A.; Loinard, Laurent; Rodríguez, Luis F.; Gómez, Laura; Forbrich, Jan; Menten, Karl M.; Kounkel, Marina A.; Mioduszewski, Amy J.; Hartmann, Lee; Tobin, John J.; Rivera, Juana L.

    2017-01-01

    Using multi-epoch Very Large Array observations, covering a time baseline of 29.1 years, we have measured the proper motions of 88 young stars with compact radio emission in the core of the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) and the neighboring BN/KL region. Our work increases the number of young stars with measured proper motion at radio frequencies by a factor of 2.5 and enables us to perform a better statistical analysis of the kinematics of the region than was previously possible. Most stars (79 out of 88) have proper motions consistent with a Gaussian distribution centered on \\overline{{μ }α \\cos δ }=1.07+/- 0.09 mas yr-1, and \\overline{{μ }δ }=-0.84+/- 0.16 mas yr-1, with velocity dispersions of {σ }α =1.08+/- 0.07 mas yr-1, {σ }δ =1.27+/- 0.15 mas yr-1. We looked for organized movements of these stars but found no clear indication of radial expansion/contraction or rotation. The remaining nine stars in our sample show peculiar proper motions that differ from the mean proper motions of the ONC by more than 3σ. One of these stars, V 1326 Ori, could have been expelled from the Orion Trapezium 7000 years ago. Two could be related to the multi-stellar disintegration in the BN/KL region, in addition to the previously known sources BN, I and n. The others either have high uncertainties (so their anomalous proper motions are not firmly established) or could be foreground objects.

  20. New High Proper Motion Stars from the Digitized Sky Survey. II. Northern Stars with 0.5" yr-1 < μ < 2.0" yr-1 at High Galactic Latitudes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lépine, Sébastien; Shara, Michael M.; Rich, R. Michael

    2003-08-01

    In a continuation of our systematic search for high proper motion stars in the Digitized Sky Survey, we have completed the analysis of northern sky fields at Galactic latitudes above 25°. With the help of our SUPERBLINK software, a powerful automated blink comparator developed by us, we have identified 1146 stars in the magnitude range 8

  1. UCAC3 PROPER MOTION SURVEY. I. DISCOVERY OF NEW PROPER MOTION STARS IN UCAC3 WITH 0.''40 yr{sup -1} > {mu} {>=} 0.''18 yr{sup -1} BETWEEN DECLINATIONS -90{sup 0} AND -47{sup 0}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Finch, Charlie T.; Zacharias, Norbert; Henry, Todd J., E-mail: finch@usno.navy.mi

    2010-09-15

    This paper presents 442 new proper motion stellar systems in the southern sky between declinations -90{sup 0} and -47{sup 0} with 0.''40 yr{sup -1} > {mu} {>=} 0.''18 yr{sup -1}. These systems constitute a 25.3% increase in new systems for the same region of the sky covered by previous SuperCOSMOS RECONS (SCR) searches that used Schmidt plates as the primary source of discovery. Among the new systems are 25 multiples, plus an additional 7 new common proper motion (CPM) companions to previously known primaries. All stars have been discovered using the third U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC3).more » A comparison of the UCAC3 proper motions to those from the Hipparcos, Tycho-2, Southern Proper Motion (SPM4), and SuperCOSMOS efforts is presented and shows that UCAC3 provides similar values and precision to the first three surveys. The comparison between UCAC3 and SuperCOSMOS indicates that proper motions in R.A. are systematically shifted in the SuperCOSMOS data but are consistent in decl. data, while overall showing a significantly higher scatter. Distance estimates are derived for stars having SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey B{sub J} , R{sub 59F}, and I{sub IVN} plate magnitudes and Two-Micron All Sky Survey infrared photometry. We find 15 systems estimated to be within 25 pc, including UPM 1710-5300 our closest new discovery estimated at 13.5 pc. Such new discoveries suggest that more nearby stars are yet to be found in these slower proper motion regimes, indicating that more work is needed to develop a complete map of the solar neighborhood.« less

  2. A method of immediate detection of objects with a near-zero apparent motion in series of CCD-frames

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Savanevych, V. E.; Khlamov, S. V.; Vavilova, I. B.; Briukhovetskyi, A. B.; Pohorelov, A. V.; Mkrtichian, D. E.; Kudak, V. I.; Pakuliak, L. K.; Dikov, E. N.; Melnik, R. G.; Vlasenko, V. P.; Reichart, D. E.

    2018-01-01

    The paper deals with a computational method for detection of the solar system minor bodies (SSOs), whose inter-frame shifts in series of CCD-frames during the observation are commensurate with the errors in measuring their positions. These objects have velocities of apparent motion between CCD-frames not exceeding three rms errors (3σ) of measurements of their positions. About 15% of objects have a near-zero apparent motion in CCD-frames, including the objects beyond the Jupiter's orbit as well as the asteroids heading straight to the Earth. The proposed method for detection of the object's near-zero apparent motion in series of CCD-frames is based on the Fisher f-criterion instead of using the traditional decision rules that are based on the maximum likelihood criterion. We analyzed the quality indicators of detection of the object's near-zero apparent motion applying statistical and in situ modeling techniques in terms of the conditional probability of the true detection of objects with a near-zero apparent motion. The efficiency of method being implemented as a plugin for the Collection Light Technology (CoLiTec) software for automated asteroids and comets detection has been demonstrated. Among the objects discovered with this plugin, there was the sungrazing comet C/2012 S1 (ISON). Within 26 min of the observation, the comet's image has been moved by three pixels in a series of four CCD-frames (the velocity of its apparent motion at the moment of discovery was equal to 0.8 pixels per CCD-frame; the image size on the frame was about five pixels). Next verification in observations of asteroids with a near-zero apparent motion conducted with small telescopes has confirmed an efficiency of the method even in bad conditions (strong backlight from the full Moon). So, we recommend applying the proposed method for series of observations with four or more frames.

  3. Measures and Relative Motions of Some Mostly F. G. W. Struve Doubles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wiley, E. O.

    2012-04-01

    Measures of 59 pairs of double stars with long observational histories using "lucky imaging" techniques are reported. Relative motions of 59 pairs are investigated using histories of observation, scatter plots of relative motion, ordinary least-squares (OLS) and total proper motion analyses performed in "R," an open source programming language. A scatter plot of the coefficient of determinations derived from the OLS y|epoch and OLS x|epoch clearly separates common proper motion pairs from optical pairs and what are termed "long-period binary candidates." Differences in proper motion separate optical pairs from long-term binary candidates. An Appendix is provided that details how to use known rectilinear pairs as calibration pairs for the program REDUC.

  4. Students' development of astronomy concepts across time

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Plummer, Julia Diane

    2006-02-01

    The National Science Education Standards (NRC, 1996) recommend that students understand the apparent patterns of motion of the sun, moon and stars visible by the end of early elementary school. However, little information exists on students' knowledge of apparent celestial motion or instruction in this area. The goals of this dissertation were to describe children's knowledge of apparent celestial motion across elementary and middle school, explore early elementary students' ability to learn these topics through planetarium instruction, and begin the development of a learning progression for these concepts, First, third, and eighth grade students (N=60) were interviewed using a planetarium-like setting that allowed the students to demonstrate their ideas both verbally and with their own motions on an artificial sky. Analysis of these interviews suggests that students are not making the types of observations of the sky necessary to learn apparent celestial motion and any instruction they may have received has not helped them reach an accurate understanding of most topics. Most students at each grade level could not accurately describe the patterns of motion. Though the older students were more accurate in most of their descriptions than the younger students, in several areas the eighth grade students showed no improvement over the third grade students. The use of kinesthetic learning techniques in a planetarium program was also explored as a method to improve understanding of celestial motion. Pre- and post-interviews were conducted with participants from seven classes of first and second grade students (N=63). Students showed significant improvement in all areas of apparent celestial motion covered by the planetarium program and surpassed the middle school students' understanding of these concepts in most areas. This suggests that students in early elementary school are capable of learning the accurate description of apparent celestial motion. The results demonstrate the value of both kinesthetic learning techniques and the rich visual environment of the planetarium for improved understanding of celestial motion. Based on the results of these studies, I developed a learning progression describing how children may progress through successively more complex ways of understanding apparent celestial motion across elementary grades.

  5. Lowell proper motion survey: Southern Hemisphere (Giclas, Burnham, and Thomas 1978). Documentation for the machine-readable version

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Warren, Wayne H., Jr.

    1989-01-01

    The machine-readable version of the catalog, as it is currently being distributed from the Astronomical Data Center, is described. The catalog is a summary compilation of the Lowell Proper Motion Survey for the Southern Hemisphere, as completed to mid-1978 and published in the Lowell Observatory Bulletins. This summary catalog serves as a Southern Hemisphere companion to the Lowell Proper Motion Survey, Northern Hemisphere.

  6. INTERNAL PROPER MOTIONS IN THE ESKIMO NEBULA

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    García-Díaz, Ma. T.; Gutiérrez, L.; Steffen, W.

    We present measurements of internal proper motions at more than 500 positions of NGC 2392, the Eskimo Nebula, based on images acquired with WFPC2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope at two epochs separated by 7.695 yr. Comparisons of the two observations clearly show the expansion of the nebula. We measured the amplitude and direction of the motion of local structures in the nebula by determining their relative shift during that interval. In order to assess the potential uncertainties in the determination of proper motions in this object, in general, the measurements were performed using two different methods, used previously in themore » literature. We compare the results from the two methods, and to perform the scientific analysis of the results we choose one, the cross-correlation method, because it is more reliable. We go on to perform a ''criss-cross'' mapping analysis on the proper motion vectors, which helps in the interpretation of the velocity pattern. By combining our results of the proper motions with radial velocity measurements obtained from high resolution spectroscopic observations, and employing an existing 3D model, we estimate the distance to the nebula to be 1.3 kpc.« less

  7. Cluster membership probability: polarimetric approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Medhi, Biman J.; Tamura, Motohide

    2013-04-01

    Interstellar polarimetric data of the six open clusters Hogg 15, NGC 6611, NGC 5606, NGC 6231, NGC 5749 and NGC 6250 have been used to estimate the membership probability for the stars within them. For proper-motion member stars, the membership probability estimated using the polarimetric data is in good agreement with the proper-motion cluster membership probability. However, for proper-motion non-member stars, the membership probability estimated by the polarimetric method is in total disagreement with the proper-motion cluster membership probability. The inconsistencies in the determined memberships may be because of the fundamental differences between the two methods of determination: one is based on stellar proper motion in space and the other is based on selective extinction of the stellar output by the asymmetric aligned dust grains present in the interstellar medium. The results and analysis suggest that the scatter of the Stokes vectors q (per cent) and u (per cent) for the proper-motion member stars depends on the interstellar and intracluster differential reddening in the open cluster. It is found that this method could be used to estimate the cluster membership probability if we have additional polarimetric and photometric information for a star to identify it as a probable member/non-member of a particular cluster, such as the maximum wavelength value (λmax), the unit weight error of the fit (σ1), the dispersion in the polarimetric position angles (overline{ɛ }), reddening (E(B - V)) or the differential intracluster reddening (ΔE(B - V)). This method could also be used to estimate the membership probability of known member stars having no membership probability as well as to resolve disagreements about membership among different proper-motion surveys.

  8. Deep HST Imaging in 47 Tucanae: A Global Dynamical Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Heyl, J.; Caiazzo, I.; Richer, H.; Anderson, J.; Kalirai, J.; Parada, J.

    2017-12-01

    Multi-epoch observations with the Advanced Camera Survey and WFC3 on the Hubble Space Telescope provide a unique and comprehensive probe of stellar dynamics within 47 Tucanae. We confront analytic models of the globular cluster with the observed stellar proper motions that probe along the main sequence from just above 0.8-0.1M ⊙ as well as white dwarfs younger than 1 Gyr. One field lies just beyond the half-light radius where dynamical models (e.g., lowered Maxwellian distributions) make robust predictions for the stellar proper motions. The observed proper motions in this outer field show evidence for anisotropy in the velocity distribution as well as skewness; the latter is evidence of rotation. The measured velocity dispersions and surface brightness distributions agree in detail with a rotating anisotropic model of the stellar distribution function with mild dependence of the proper-motion dispersion on mass. However, the best-fitting models underpredict the rotation and skewness of the stellar velocities. In the second field, centered on the core of the cluster, the mass segregation in proper motion is much stronger. Nevertheless the model developed in the outer field can be extended inward by taking this mass segregation into account in a heuristic fashion. The proper motions of the main-sequence stars yield a mass estimate of the cluster of 1.31+/- 0.02× {10}6{M}⊙ at a distance of 4.7 kpc. By comparing the proper motions of a sample of giant and subgiant stars with the observed radial velocities we estimate the distance to the cluster kinematically to be 4.29 ± 0.47 kpc.

  9. Absolute proper motion of IRAS 00259+5625 with VERA: Indication of superbubble expansion motion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sakai, Nobuyuki; Sato, Mayumi; Motogi, Kazuhito; Nagayama, Takumi; Shibata, Katsunori M.; Kanaguchi, Masahiro; Honma, Mareki

    2014-02-01

    We present the first measurement of the absolute proper motions of IRAS 00259+5625 (CB3, LBN594) associated with the H I loop called the "NGC 281 superbubble" that extends from the Galactic plane over ˜ 300 pc toward decreasing galactic latitude. The proper motion components measured with VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) are (μαcos δ, μδ) = (-2.48 ± 0.32, -2.85 ± 0.65) mas yr-1, converted into (μlcos b, μb) = (-2.72 ± 0.32, -2.62 ± 0.65) mas yr-1 in the Galactic coordinates. The measured proper motion perpendicular to the Galactic plane (μb) shows vertical motion away from the Galactic plane with a significance of about ˜ 4 σ. As for the source distance, the distance measured with VERA is marginal, 2.4^{+1.0}_{-0.6} kpc. Using the distance, an absolute vertical motion (vb) of -17.9 ± 12.2 km s-1 is determined with ˜ 1.5 σ significance. The tendency towards the large vertical motion is consistent with previous very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) results for NGC 281 associated with the same superbubble. Thus, our VLBI results indicate superbubble expansion motion whose origin is believed to be sequential supernova explosions.

  10. On the Occurrence of Wide Binaries in the Local Disk and Halo Populations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hartman, Zachary; Lepine, Sebastien

    2018-01-01

    We present results from our search for wide binaries in the SUPERBLINK+GAIA all-sky catalog of 2.8 million high proper motion stars (μ>40 mas/yr). Through a Bayesian analysis of common proper motion pairs, we have identified highly probable wide binary/multiple systems based on statistics of their proper motion differences and angular separations. Using a reduced proper motion diagram, we determine whether these wide are part of the young disk, old disk, or Galactic halo population. We examine the relative occurrence rate for very wide companions in these respective populations. All groups are found to contain a significant number of wide binary systems, with about 1 percent of the stars in each group having pairs with separations >1,000 AU.

  11. VizieR Online Data Catalog: New proper motion stars with pm>=0.18"/yr (Boyd+, 2011)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boyd, M. R.; Henry, T. J.; Jao, W.-C.; Subasavage, J. P.; Hambly, N. C.

    2012-11-01

    Here we present 1584 new southern proper motion systems with μ>=0.18"/yr and 16.5>R59F>=18.0. This search complements the six previous SuperCOSMOS-RECONS (SCR) proper motion searches of the southern sky for stars within the same proper motion range, but with R59F<=16.5. As in previous papers, we present distance estimates for these systems and find that three systems are estimated to be within 25pc, including one, SCR 1546-5534, possibly within the RECONS 10pc horizon at 6.7pc, making it the second nearest discovery of the searches. We find 97 white dwarf candidates with distance estimates between 10 and 120pc, as well as 557 cool subdwarf candidates. (5 data files).

  12. A Spectroscopic Survey of Field Red Horizontal-branch Stars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Afşar, Melike; Bozkurt, Zeynep; Böcek Topcu, Gamze; Casetti-Dinescu, Dana I.; Sneden, Christopher; Şehitog̅lu, Gizem

    2018-06-01

    A metallicity, chemical composition, and kinematic survey has been conducted for a sample of 340 candidate field red horizontal-branch (RHB) stars. Spectra with high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio were gathered with the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m Tull and the Hobby–Eberly Telescope echelle spectrographs, and were used to determine effective temperatures, surface gravities, microturbulent velocities, [Fe/H] metallicities, and abundance ratios [X/Fe] for seven α and Fe-group species. The derived temperatures and gravities confirm that at least half of the candidates are true RHB stars, with (average) parameters T eff ∼ 5000 K and log g ∼ 2.5. From the α abundances alone, the thin and thick Galactic populations are apparent in our sample. Space motions for 90% of the program stars were computed from Hipparcos and Gaia parallaxes and proper motions. Correlations between chemical compositions and Galactic kinematics clearly indicate the existence of both thin-disk and thick-disk RHB stars.

  13. Space astrometry project JASMINE

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouda, N.; Kobayashi, Y.; Yamada, Y.; Yano, Y.; Jasmine Working Group

    A Japanese plan for an infrared ( z-band: 0.9 m) space astrometry project, JASMINE, is introduced. JASMINE is a satellite (Japan Astrometry Satellite Mission for INfrared Exploration) to measure distances and apparent motions of stars in the bulge of the Milky Way with yet unprecedented precision. It will measure parallaxes and positions with an accuracy of 10 μarcsec and proper motions with an accuracy of 4 μarcsec/year for stars brighter than z = 14 mag. JASMINE will observe about 10 million stars belonging to the bulge component of our Galaxy. With a completely new "map of the Galactic bulge", it is expected that many new exciting scientific results will be obtained in various fields of astronomy. Presently, JASMINE is in the development phase, with a target launch date around 2015. Overall system (bus) design is presently ongoing, in cooperation with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Preliminary design of instruments, observing strategy, data reduction, and critical technical issues for JASMINE will be described.

  14. Determination of Galactic Aberration from VLBI Measurements and Its Effect on VLBI Reference Frames and Earth Orientation Parameters.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    MacMillan, D. S.

    2014-12-01

    Galactic aberration is due to the motion of the solar system barycenter around the galactic center. It results in a systematic pattern of apparent proper motion of radio sources observed by VLBI. This effect is not currently included in VLBI analysis. Estimates of the size of this effect indicate that it is important that this secular aberration drift be accounted for in order to maintain an accurate celestial reference frame and allow astrometry at the several microarcsecond level. Future geodetic observing systems are being designed to be capable of producing a future terrestrial reference frame with an accuracy of 1 mm and stability of 0.1 mm/year. We evaluate the effect galactic aberration on attaining these reference frame goals. This presentation will discuss 1) the estimation of galactic aberration from VLBI data and 2) the effect of aberration on the Terrestrial and Celestial Reference Frames and the Earth Orientation Parameters that connect these frames.

  15. Sunspot observations from the SOUP instrument on Spacelab 2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shine, R. A.; Title, A. M.; Tarbell, T. D.; Acton, L.; Duncan, D.; Ferguson, S. H.; Finch, M.; Frank, Z.; Kelly, G.; Lindgren, R.

    1987-09-01

    A series of white light images obtained by the SOUP instrument on Spacelab 2 of active region 4682 on August 5, 1985 were analyzed in the area containing sunspots. Although the umbra of the spot is underexposed, the film is well exposed in the penumbral regions. These data were digitally processed to remove noise and to separate p-mode oscillations from low velocity material motions. The results of this preliminary investigation include: (1) proper motion measurements of a radial outflow in the photospheric granulation pattern just outside the penumbra; (2) discovery of occasional bright structures (streakers) that appear to be ejected outward from the penumbra; (3) broad dark clouds moving outward in the penumbra in addition to the well known bright penumbral grains moving inward; (4) apparent extensions and contractions of penumbral filaments over the photosphere; and (5) observation of a faint bubble or loop-like structure which seems to expand from two bright penumbral filaments into the photosphere.

  16. Sunspot observations from the SOUP instrument on Spacelab 2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shine, R. A.; Title, A. M.; Tarbell, T. D.; Acton, L.; Duncan, D.; Ferguson, S. H.; Finch, M.; Frank, Z.; Kelly, G.; Lindgren, R.

    1987-01-01

    A series of white light images obtained by the SOUP instrument on Spacelab 2 of active region 4682 on August 5, 1985 were analyzed in the area containing sunspots. Although the umbra of the spot is underexposed, the film is well exposed in the penumbral regions. These data were digitally processed to remove noise and to separate p-mode oscillations from low velocity material motions. The results of this preliminary investigation include: (1) proper motion measurements of a radial outflow in the photospheric granulation pattern just outside the penumbra; (2) discovery of occasional bright structures (streakers) that appear to be ejected outward from the penumbra; (3) broad dark clouds moving outward in the penumbra in addition to the well known bright penumbral grains moving inward; (4) apparent extensions and contractions of penumbral filaments over the photosphere; and (5) observation of a faint bubble or loop-like structure which seems to expand from two bright penumbral filaments into the photosphere.

  17. Application of MCM image construction to IRAS comet observations

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schlapfer, Martin F.; Walker, Russell G.

    1994-01-01

    There is a wealth of IRAS comet data, obtained in both the survey and pointed observations modes. However, these measurements have remained largely untouched due to difficulties in removing instrumental effects from the data. We have developed a version of the Maximum Correlation Method for Image Construction algorithm (MCM) which operates in the moving coordinate system of the comet and properly treats both real cometary motion and apparent motion due to spacecraft parallax. This algorithm has been implemented on a 486/33 PC in FORTRAN and IDL codes. Preprocessing of the IRAS CRDD includes baseline removal, deglitching, and removal of long tails due to dielectric time constants of the detectors. The resulting images are virtually free from instrumental effects and have the highest possible spatial resolution consistent with the data sampling. We present examples of high resolution IRAS images constructed from survey observations of Comets P/Tempel 1 and P/Tempel 2, and pointed observations of IRAS-Araki-Alcock.

  18. A 2 epoch proper motion catalogue from the UKIDSS Large Area Survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, Leigh; Lucas, Phil; Burningham, Ben; Jones, Hugh; Pinfield, David; Smart, Ricky; Andrei, Alexandre

    2013-04-01

    The UKIDSS Large Area Survey (LAS) began in 2005, with the start of the UKIDSS program as a 7 year effort to survey roughly 4000 square degrees at high galactic latitudes in Y, J, H and K bands. The survey also included a significant quantity of 2-epoch J band observations, with epoch baselines ranging from 2 to 7 years. We present a proper motion catalogue for the 1500 square degrees of the 2 epoch LAS data, which includes some 800,000 sources with motions detected above the 5σ level. We developed a bespoke proper motion pipeline which applies a source-unique second order polynomial transformation to UKIDSS array coordinates of each source to counter potential local non-uniformity in the focal plane. Our catalogue agrees well with the proper motion data supplied in the current WFCAM Science Archive (WSA) DR9 catalogue where there is overlap, and in various optical catalogues, but it benefits from some improvements. One improvement is that we provide absolute proper motions, using LAS galaxies for the relative to absolute correction. Also, by using unique, local, 2nd order polynomial tranformations, as opposed to the linear transformations in the WSA, we correct better for any local distortions in the focal plane, not including the radial distortion that is removed by their pipeline.

  19. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Outer satellites occultation predictions (Gomes-Junior+, 2016)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gomes-Junior, A. R.; Assafin, M.; Beauvalet, L.; Desmars, J.; Vieira-Martins, R.; Camargo, J. I. B.; Morgado, B. E.; Braga-Ribas, F.

    2016-07-01

    Tables contain the day of the year and UTC central instant of the prediction; right ascension and declination of the occulted star - at the central instant of the occultation (corrected by proper motions); C/A: apparent geocentric distance between the satellite and the star (a.k.a. the distance between the shadow and the center of the Earth) at the moment of the geocentric closest approach, in arcseconds; P/A: the satellite position angle with respect to the occulted star at C/A, in degrees (zero at north of the star, increasing clockwise); v: relative velocity of event in km/s: positive = prograde, negative = retrograde; D: Geocentric distance to the occulting object in AU; R*: normalized UCAC4 magnitude in the R-band to a common shadow of 20km/s by the relationship R*=RUCAC4+2.5xlog(velocity/(20km/s)), the value 20km/s is typical of events around the opposition; long: east longitude of subplanet point in degrees, positive towards east, at the instant of the geocentric closest approach; LST: UT + long: local solar time at subplanet point, hh:mm; pmra and pmdec: proper motions in right ascension and declination, respectively (mas/year). For more detailed information about the definition and use of these stellar occultation geometric elements see Assafin et al. (2010, Cat. J/A+A/515/A32). (2 data files).

  20. ROTATION PERIODS OF WIDE BINARIES IN THE KEPLER FIELD

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Janes, K. A.

    In a search of proper motion catalogs for common proper motion stars in the field of the Kepler spacecraft I identified 93 likely binary systems. A comparison of their rotation periods is a test of the gyrochronology concept. To find their periods I calculated the autocorrelation function (ACF) of the Kepler mission photometry for each star. In most systems for which good periods can be found, the cooler star has a longer period than the hotter component, in general agreement with models. However, there is a wide range in the gradients of lines connecting binary pairs in a period–color diagram.more » Furthermore, near the solar color, only a few stars have longer periods than the Sun, suggesting that they, and their cooler companions, are not much older than the Sun. In addition, there is an apparent gap at intermediate periods in the period distribution of the late K and early M stars. Either star formation in this direction has been variable, or stars evolve in period at a non-uniform rate, or some stars evolve more rapidly than others at the same mass. Finally, using the ACF as a measure of the activity level, I found that while the F, G, and early K stars become less active as their periods increase, there is no correlation between period and activity for the mid K to early M stars.« less

  1. The spiral aftereffect : III, Some effects of perceived size, retinal size, and retinal speed on the duration of illusory motion.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1971-07-01

    Many safety problems encountered in aviation have been attributed to visual illusions. One of the various types of visual illusions, that of apparent motion, includes as an aftereffect the apparent reversed motion of an object after it ceases real mo...

  2. VizieR Online Data Catalog: 1876 open clusters multimembership catalog (Sampedro+, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sampedro, L.; Dias, W. S.; Alfaro, E. J.; Monteiro, H.; Molino, A.

    2017-10-01

    We use version 3.5 of the New Optically Visible Open Clusters and Candidates catalogue (hereafter DAML02; Dias et al., 2002, Cat. B/ocl), to select a sample of 2167 open clusters to be analysed. The stellar positions and the proper motions are taken from the UCAC4 (Zacharias et al., 2013, Cat. I/322). The catalogue contains data for over 113 million stars (105 million of them with proper-motion data), and is complete down to magnitude R=16. The positional accuracy of the listed objects is about 15-100mas per coordinate, depending on the magnitude. Formal errors in proper motions range from about 1 to 10mas/yr, depending on the magnitude and the observational history. Systematic errors in the proper motions are estimated to be about 1-4mas/yr. (2 data files).

  3. A Proper-Motion Corrected, Cross-Matched Catalog Of M Dwarfs In SDSS And FIRST

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arai, Erin; West, A. A.; Thyagarajan, N.; Agüeros, M.; Helfand, D.

    2011-05-01

    We present a preliminary analysis of M dwarfs identified in both the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the Very Large Array's (VLA) Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-centimeters survey (FIRST). The presence of magnetic fields is often associated with indirect magnetic activity measurements, such as H-alpha or X-ray emission. Radio emission, in contrast, is directly proportional to the magnetic field strength in addition to being another measure of activity. We search for stellar radio emission by cross-matching the SDSS DR7 M dwarf sample with the FIRST catalog. The SDSS data allow us to examine the spectra of our objects and correlate the magnetic activity (H-alpha) with the magnetic field strength (radio emission). Accurate positions and proper motions are important for obtaining a complete list of overlapping targets. Positions in FIRST and SDSS need to be proper motion corrected in order to ensure unique target matches since nearby M dwarfs can have significant proper motions (up to 1'' per year). Some previous studies have neglected the significance of proper motions in identifying overlapping targets between SDSS and FIRST; we correct for some of these previous oversights. In addition the FIRST data were taken in multiple epochs; individual images need to be proper motion corrected before the images can be co-added. Our cross-match catalog puts important constraints on models of magnetic field generation in low-mass stars in addition to the true habitability of attending planets.

  4. Interaction of Perceptual Grouping and Crossmodal Temporal Capture in Tactile Apparent-Motion

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Lihan; Shi, Zhuanghua; Müller, Hermann J.

    2011-01-01

    Previous studies have shown that in tasks requiring participants to report the direction of apparent motion, task-irrelevant mono-beeps can “capture” visual motion perception when the beeps occur temporally close to the visual stimuli. However, the contributions of the relative timing of multimodal events and the event structure, modulating uni- and/or crossmodal perceptual grouping, remain unclear. To examine this question and extend the investigation to the tactile modality, the current experiments presented tactile two-tap apparent-motion streams, with an SOA of 400 ms between successive, left-/right-hand middle-finger taps, accompanied by task-irrelevant, non-spatial auditory stimuli. The streams were shown for 90 seconds, and participants' task was to continuously report the perceived (left- or rightward) direction of tactile motion. In Experiment 1, each tactile stimulus was paired with an auditory beep, though odd-numbered taps were paired with an asynchronous beep, with audiotactile SOAs ranging from −75 ms to 75 ms. Perceived direction of tactile motion varied systematically with audiotactile SOA, indicative of a temporal-capture effect. In Experiment 2, two audiotactile SOAs—one short (75 ms), one long (325 ms)—were compared. The long-SOA condition preserved the crossmodal event structure (so the temporal-capture dynamics should have been similar to that in Experiment 1), but both beeps now occurred temporally close to the taps on one side (even-numbered taps). The two SOAs were found to produce opposite modulations of apparent motion, indicative of an influence of crossmodal grouping. In Experiment 3, only odd-numbered, but not even-numbered, taps were paired with auditory beeps. This abolished the temporal-capture effect and, instead, a dominant percept of apparent motion from the audiotactile side to the tactile-only side was observed independently of the SOA variation. These findings suggest that asymmetric crossmodal grouping leads to an attentional modulation of apparent motion, which inhibits crossmodal temporal-capture effects. PMID:21383834

  5. WIYN OPEN CLUSTER STUDY. LV. ASTROMETRY AND MEMBERSHIP IN NGC 6819

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Platais, Imants; Gosnell, Natalie M.; Meibom, Soren

    2013-08-01

    We present proper motions and astrometric membership analysis for 15,750 stars around the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 6819. The accuracy of relative proper motions for well-measured stars ranges from {approx}0.2 mas yr{sup -1} within 10' of the cluster center to 1.1 mas yr{sup -1} outside this radius. In the proper motion vector-point diagram, the separation between the cluster members and field stars is convincing down to V {approx} 18 and within 10' from the cluster center. The formal sum of membership probabilities indicates a total of {approx}2500 cluster members down to V {approx} 22. We confirm the cluster membership ofmore » several variable stars, including some eclipsing binaries. The estimated absolute proper motion of NGC 6819 is {mu}{sub x}{sup abs}=-2.6{+-}0.5 and {mu}{sub y}{sup abs}=-4.2{+-}0.5 mas yr{sup -1}. A cross-identification between the proper motion catalog and a list of X-ray sources in the field of NGC 6819 resulted in a number of new likely optical counterparts, including a candidate CV. For the first time we show that there is significant differential reddening toward NGC 6819.« less

  6. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Proper motions of PM2000 open clusters (Krone-Martins+, 2010)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krone-Martins, A.; Soubiran, C.; Ducourant, C.; Teixeira, R.; Le Campion, J. F.

    2010-04-01

    We present lists of proper-motions and kinematic membership probabilities in the region of 49 open clusters or possible open clusters. The stellar proper motions were taken from the Bordeaux PM2000 catalogue. The segregation between cluster and field stars and the assignment of membership probabilities was accomplished by applying a fully automated method based on parametrisations for the probability distribution functions and genetic algorithm optimisation heuristics associated with a derivative-based hill climbing algorithm for the likelihood optimization. (3 data files).

  7. VizieR Online Data Catalog: VVV high proper motion stars. I. Ks<=13.5 stars (Kurtev+, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kurtev, R.; Gromadzki, M.; Beamin, J. C.; Folkes, S. L.; Pena Ramirez, K.; Ivanov, V. D.; Borissova, J.; Villanueva, V.; Minniti, D.; Mendez, R.; Lucas, P. W.; Smith, L. C.; Pinfield, D. J.; Kuhn, M. A.; Jones, H. R. A.; Antonova, A.; Yip, A. K. P.

    2017-05-01

    A catalogue of 3003 high proper motion stars projected on the area of the Vista Variables en via Lactea NIR survey. The positions of the first and the last VVV epochs as well as the 2MASS positions of the majority of the catalogue objects are given. The catalogue also contains photometrical data for these 3003 nearby stars in ZYJHKs filters. The proper motions are calculated one using the VVV only data and VVV-2MASS positions. (2 data files).

  8. The VMC survey. XXX. Stellar proper motions in the central parts of the Small Magellanic Cloud

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Niederhofer, F.; Cioni, M.-R. L.; Rubele, S.; Schmidt, T.; Bekki, K.; Grijs, R. de; Emerson, J.; Ivanov, V. D.; Marconi, M.; Oliveira, J. M.; Petr-Gotzens, M. G.; Ripepi, V.; van Loon, J. Th.; Zaggia, S.

    2018-05-01

    We present the first spatially resolved map of stellar proper motions within the central ( 3.1 × 2.4 kpc) regions of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The data used for this study encompasses four tiles from the ongoing near-infrared VISTA survey of the Magellanic Clouds system and covers a total contiguous area on the sky of 6.81 deg2. Proper motions have been calculated independently in two dimensions from the spatial offsets in the Ks filter over time baselines between 22 and 27 months. The reflex motions of approximately 33 000 background galaxies are used to calibrate the stellar motions to an absolute scale. The resulting catalog is composed of more than 690 000 stars which have been selected based on their position in the (J - Ks, Ks) color-magnitude diagram. For the median absolute proper motion of the SMC, we find (μαcos(δ), μδ) = (1.087 ± 0.192 (sys.) ± 0.003 (stat.), -1.187 ± 0.008 (sys.) ± 0.003 (stat.)) mas yr-1, consistent with previous studies. Mapping the proper motions as a function of position within the SMC reveals a nonuniform velocity pattern indicative of a tidal feature behind the main body of the SMC and a flow of stars in the south-east moving predominantly along the line-of-sight. Based on observations made with VISTA at the Paranal Observatory under program ID 179.B-2003.

  9. Deciding what to see: the role of intention and attention in the perception of apparent motion.

    PubMed

    Kohler, Axel; Haddad, Leila; Singer, Wolf; Muckli, Lars

    2008-03-01

    Apparent motion is an illusory perception of movement that can be induced by alternating presentations of static objects. Already in Wertheimer's early investigation of the phenomenon [Wertheimer, M. (1912). Experimentelle Studien über das Sehen von Bewegung. Zeitschrift fur Psychologie, 61, 161-265], he mentions that voluntary attention can influence the way in which an ambiguous apparent motion display is perceived. But until now, few studies have investigated how strong the modulation of apparent motion through attention can be under different stimulus and task conditions. We used bistable motion quartets of two different sizes, where the perception of vertical and horizontal motion is equally likely. Eleven observers participated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, participants were instructed to either (a) hold the current movement direction as long as possible, (b) passively view the stimulus, or (c) switch the movement directions as quickly as possible. With the respective instructions, observers could almost double phase durations in (a) and more than halve durations in (c) relative to the passive condition. This modulation effect was stronger for the large quartets. In Experiment 2, observers' attention was diverted from the stimulus by a detection task at fixation while they still had to report their conscious perception. This manipulation prolonged dominance durations for up to 100%. The experiments reveal a high susceptibility of ambiguous apparent motion to attentional modulation. We discuss how feature- and space-based attention mechanisms might contribute to those effects.

  10. Proper motion of the radio pulsar B1727-47 and its association with the supernova remnant RCW 114

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shternin, P. S.; Yu, M.; Kirichenko, A. Yu; Shibanov, Yu A.; Danilenko, A. A.; Voronkov, M. A.; Zyuzin, D. A.

    2017-12-01

    We report preliminary results of the analysis of the proper motion of the bright radio pulsar B1727-47. Using archival Parkes timing data, as well as original and archival ATCA interferometry observations, we, for the first time, constrain the pulsar proper motion at the level of 148±11 mas yr-1. The backward extrapolation of the proper motion vector to the pulsar birth epoch points at the center of the Galactic supernova remnant RCW 114 suggesting the genuine association between the two objects. We discuss the implications of the association and argue that the distance to the system is less than 1 kpc. This value is at least two times lower than the dispersion measure distance estimates. This suggests that the existing Galaxy electron density models are incomplete in the direction to the pulsar.

  11. The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment: catalogue of stellar proper motions in the OGLE-II Galactic bulge fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sumi, T.; Wu, X.; Udalski, A.; Szymański, M.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzyński, G.; Soszyński, I.; Woźniak, P.; Żebruń, K.; Szewczyk, O.; Wyrzykowski, Ł.

    2004-03-01

    We present a proper-motion (μ) catalogue of 5 080 236 stars in 49 Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment II (OGLE-II) Galactic bulge (GB) fields, covering a range of -11° < l < 11° and -6° < b < 3°, the total area close to 11 deg2. The proper-motion measurements are based on 138-555 I-band images taken during four observing seasons: 1997-2000. The catalogue stars are in the magnitude range 11 < I < 18 mag. In particular, the catalogue includes red clump giants and red giants in the GB, and main-sequence stars in the Galactic disc. The proper motions up to μ= 500 mas yr-1 were measured with a mean accuracy of 0.8-3.5 mas yr-1, depending on the brightness of a star. This catalogue may be useful for studying the kinematics of stars in the GB and the Galactic disc.

  12. A Self-Alignment Algorithm for SINS Based on Gravitational Apparent Motion and Sensor Data Denoising

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Yiting; Xu, Xiaosu; Liu, Xixiang; Yao, Yiqing; Wu, Liang; Sun, Jin

    2015-01-01

    Initial alignment is always a key topic and difficult to achieve in an inertial navigation system (INS). In this paper a novel self-initial alignment algorithm is proposed using gravitational apparent motion vectors at three different moments and vector-operation. Simulation and analysis showed that this method easily suffers from the random noise contained in accelerometer measurements which are used to construct apparent motion directly. Aiming to resolve this problem, an online sensor data denoising method based on a Kalman filter is proposed and a novel reconstruction method for apparent motion is designed to avoid the collinearity among vectors participating in the alignment solution. Simulation, turntable tests and vehicle tests indicate that the proposed alignment algorithm can fulfill initial alignment of strapdown INS (SINS) under both static and swinging conditions. The accuracy can either reach or approach the theoretical values determined by sensor precision under static or swinging conditions. PMID:25923932

  13. The Solar Neighborhood. XXV. Discovery of New Proper Motion Stars with 0.40 sec/yr > mu > or = 0.18 sec/yr Between Declinations -47 deg and 00 deg

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Boyd, Mark R.; Winters, Jennifer G.; Henry, Todd J.; Jao, Wei-Chun; Finch, Charlie T.; Subasavage, John P.; Hambly, Nigel C.

    2011-01-01

    We present 2817 new southern proper motion systems with 0.40 sec/yr > mu > or = 0.18 sec/yr and declination between 47 deg and 00 deg. This is a continuation of the SuperCOSMOS-RECONS (SCR) proper motion searches of the southern sky. We use the same photometric relations as previous searches to provide distance estimates based on the assumption that the objects are single main-sequence stars. We find 79 new red dwarf systems predicted to be within 25 pc, including a few new components of previously known systems. Two systems--SCR 1731-2452 at 9.5 pc and SCR 1746-3214 at 9.9 pc--are anticipated to be within 10 pc. We also find 23 new white dwarf (WD) candidates with distance estimates of 15-66 pc, as well as 360 new red subdwarf candidates. With this search, we complete the SCR sweep of the southern sky for stars with mu > or = 0.18 sec/yr and R(sub 59F) < or = 16.5, resulting in a total of 5042 objects in 4724 previously unreported proper motion systems. Here we provide selected comprehensive lists from our SCR proper motion search to date, including 152 red dwarf systems estimated to be within 25 pc (9 within 10 pc), 46 WDs (10 within 25 pc), and 598 subdwarf candidates. The results of this search suggest that there are more nearby systems to be found at fainter magnitudes and lower proper motion limits than those probed so far.

  14. Astrometry in the globular cluster M13. II. Membership probabilities from old proper motions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cudworth, K.

    Astrometric cluster membership probabilities have been derived from proper motions measured by other authors for stars in the region of the globular cluster M13. Several stars of individual interest are discussed.

  15. Vantage Theory and the Use of English Demonstrative Determiners with Proper Nouns

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Riddle, Elizabeth M.

    2010-01-01

    This article discusses some apparently paradoxical behavior of the English demonstratives "this/these" and "that/those" as determiners of proper nouns and as metaphorical signals of epistemic and affective stance within the proximal-distal opposition. It is argued that the apparent paradoxes are actually cases of shifting perspectives or points of…

  16. VizieR Online Data Catalog: OGLE high proper motion stars towards MC (Soszynski+, 2002)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soszynski, I.; Zebrun, K.; Udalski, A.; Wozniak, P. R.; Szymanski, M.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzynski, G.; Szewczyk, O.; Wyrzykowski, L.

    2002-11-01

    We present a catalog of high proper motion (HPM) stars detected in the foreground of central parts of the Magellanic Clouds. The Catalog contains 2161 objects in the 4.5 square degree area towards the LMC, and 892 HPM stars in the 2.4 square degree area towards the SMC. The Catalog is based on observations collected during four years of the OGLE-II microlensing survey. The Difference Image Analysis (DIA) of the images provided candidate HPM stars with proper motion as small as 4mas/yr. These appeared as pseudo-variables, and were all measured astrometrically on all CCD images, providing typically about 400 data points per star. The reference frame was defined by the majority of background stars, most of them members of the Magellanic Clouds. The reflex motion due to solar velocity with respect to the local standards of rest is clearly seen. The largest proper motion in our sample is 363mas/yr. Parallaxes were measured with errors smaller than 20% for several stars. (2 data files).

  17. Optical identification of two nearby Isolated Neutron Stars through proper motion measuremnt.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zane, Silvia

    2004-07-01

    Aim of this proposal is to perform high-resolution imaging of the proposed optical counterparts of the two, radio silent, isolated neutron stars RXJ1308.6+2127 and RX J1605.3+3249 with the STIS/50CCD. Imaging both fields with the same instrumental configuration used in mid 2001 by Kaplan et al {2002; 2003}, will allow us to measure the objects' position and to determine their proper motions over a time base of nearly four years. The measurement of proper motions at the level of at least few tens mas/yr, expected for relatively nearby neutron stars, would unambigouosly secure the proposed optical identifications, not achievable otherwise. In addition, the knowledge of the proper motion will provide useful indications on the space velocity and distance of these neutrons stars, as well as on the radius. Constraining these parameters is of paramount importance to discriminate between the variety of emission mechanisms invoked to explain their observed thermal X-ray spectra and to probe the neutron star equation of state {EOS}. The determination of the proper motion is a decisive step toward a dedicated follow-up program aimed at measuring the objects' optical parallax, thus providing much firmer constrains on the star properties, again to be performed with the STIS/50CCD.

  18. GAIA: A WINDOW TO LARGE-SCALE MOTIONS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nusser, Adi; Branchini, Enzo; Davis, Marc, E-mail: adi@physics.technion.ac.il, E-mail: branchin@fis.uniroma3.it, E-mail: mdavis@berkeley.edu

    2012-08-10

    Using redshifts as a proxy for galaxy distances, estimates of the two-dimensional (2D) transverse peculiar velocities of distant galaxies could be obtained from future measurements of proper motions. We provide the mathematical framework for analyzing 2D transverse motions and show that they offer several advantages over traditional probes of large-scale motions. They are completely independent of any intrinsic relations between galaxy properties; hence, they are essentially free of selection biases. They are free from homogeneous and inhomogeneous Malmquist biases that typically plague distance indicator catalogs. They provide additional information to traditional probes that yield line-of-sight peculiar velocities only. Further, becausemore » of their 2D nature, fundamental questions regarding vorticity of large-scale flows can be addressed. Gaia, for example, is expected to provide proper motions of at least bright galaxies with high central surface brightness, making proper motions a likely contender for traditional probes based on current and future distance indicator measurements.« less

  19. Proper Motion of Components in 4C 39.25

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Guirado, J. C.; Marcaide, J. M.; Alberdi, A.; Elosegui, P.; Ratner, M. I.; Shapiro, I. I.; Kilger, R.; Mantovani, F.; Venturi, T.; Rius, A.; hide

    1995-01-01

    From a series of simultaneous 8.4 and 2.3 GHz VLBI observations of the quasar 4C 39.25 phase referenced to the radio source 0920+390, carried out in 1990-1992, we have measured the proper motion of component b in 4C 39.25: mu(sub alpha) = 90 +/- 43 (mu)as/yr, mu(sub beta) = 7 +/- 68 (mu)as/yr, where the quoted uncertainties account for the contribution of the statistical standard deviation and the errors assumed for the parameters related to the geometry of the interferometric array, the atmosphere, and the source structure. This proper motion is consistent with earlier interpretations of VLBI hybrid mapping results, which showed an internal motion of this component with respect to other structural components. Our differential astrometry analyses show component b to be the one in motion. Our results thus further constrain models of this quasar.

  20. THE SOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD. XXV. DISCOVERY OF NEW PROPER MOTION STARS WITH 0.''40 yr{sup -1} > {mu} {>=} 0.''18 yr{sup -1} BETWEEN DECLINATIONS -47{sup 0} AND 00{sup 0}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Boyd, Mark R.; Winters, Jennifer G.; Henry, Todd J.

    2011-07-15

    We present 2817 new southern proper motion systems with 0.''40 yr{sup -1} > {mu} {>=} 0.''18 yr{sup -1} and declination between -47{sup 0} and 00{sup 0}. This is a continuation of the SuperCOSMOS-RECONS (SCR) proper motion searches of the southern sky. We use the same photometric relations as previous searches to provide distance estimates based on the assumption that the objects are single main-sequence stars. We find 79 new red dwarf systems predicted to be within 25 pc, including a few new components of previously known systems. Two systems-SCR 1731-2452 at 9.5 pc and SCR 1746-3214 at 9.9 pc-are anticipatedmore » to be within 10 pc. We also find 23 new white dwarf (WD) candidates with distance estimates of 15-66 pc, as well as 360 new red subdwarf candidates. With this search, we complete the SCR sweep of the southern sky for stars with {mu} {>=} 0.''18 yr{sup -1} and R{sub 59F} {<=} 16.5, resulting in a total of 5042 objects in 4724 previously unreported proper motion systems. Here we provide selected comprehensive lists from our SCR proper motion search to date, including 152 red dwarf systems estimated to be within 25 pc (9 within 10 pc), 46 WDs (10 within 25 pc), and 598 subdwarf candidates. The results of this search suggest that there are more nearby systems to be found at fainter magnitudes and lower proper motion limits than those probed so far.« less

  1. Globular Clusters: Absolute Proper Motions and Galactic Orbits

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chemel, A. A.; Glushkova, E. V.; Dambis, A. K.; Rastorguev, A. S.; Yalyalieva, L. N.; Klinichev, A. D.

    2018-04-01

    We cross-match objects from several different astronomical catalogs to determine the absolute proper motions of stars within the 30-arcmin radius fields of 115 Milky-Way globular clusters with the accuracy of 1-2 mas yr-1. The proper motions are based on positional data recovered from the USNO-B1, 2MASS, URAT1, ALLWISE, UCAC5, and Gaia DR1 surveys with up to ten positions spanning an epoch difference of up to about 65 years, and reduced to Gaia DR1 TGAS frame using UCAC5 as the reference catalog. Cluster members are photometrically identified by selecting horizontal- and red-giant branch stars on color-magnitude diagrams, and the mean absolute proper motions of the clusters with a typical formal error of about 0.4 mas yr-1 are computed by averaging the proper motions of selected members. The inferred absolute proper motions of clusters are combined with available radial-velocity data and heliocentric distance estimates to compute the cluster orbits in terms of the Galactic potential models based on Miyamoto and Nagai disk, Hernquist spheroid, and modified isothermal dark-matter halo (axisymmetric model without a bar) and the same model + rotating Ferre's bar (non-axisymmetric). Five distant clusters have higher-than-escape velocities, most likely due to large errors of computed transversal velocities, whereas the computed orbits of all other clusters remain bound to the Galaxy. Unlike previously published results, we find the bar to affect substantially the orbits of most of the clusters, even those at large Galactocentric distances, bringing appreciable chaotization, especially in the portions of the orbits close to the Galactic center, and stretching out the orbits of some of the thick-disk clusters.

  2. The First X-Ray Proper-Motion Measurements of the Forward Shock in the Northeastern Limb of Sn 1006

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Katsuda, Satoru; Petre, Robert; Long, Knox S.; Reynolds, Stephen P.; Winkler, P. Frank; Mori, Koji; Tsunemi, Hiroshi

    2009-01-01

    We report on the first X-ray proper-motion measurements of the nonthermally-dominated forward shock in the northeastern limb of SN 1006, based on two Chandra observations taken in 2000 and 2008. We find that the proper motion of the forward shock is about 0.48"/yr and does not vary around the rim within the approx.10% measurement uncertainties. The proper motion measured is consistent with that determined by the previous radio observations. The mean expansion index of the forward shock is calculated to be approx..0.54 which matches the value expected based on an evolutionary model of a Type Ia supernova with either a power-law or an exponential ejecta density profile. Assuming pressure equilibrium around the periphery from the thermally-dominated northwestern rim to the nonthermally-dominated northeastern rim, we estimate the ambient density to the northeast of SN 1006 to be approx..0.085/cu cm.

  3. Discovery of a New Nearby Star

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Teegarden, B. J.; Pravdo, S. H.; Covey, K.; Frazier, O.; Hawley, S. L.; Hicks, M.; Lawrence, K.; McGlynn, T.; Reid, I. N.; Shaklan, S. B.

    2003-01-01

    We report the discovery of a nearby star with a very large proper motion of 5.06 +/- 0.03 arcsec/yr. The star is called SO025300.5+165258 and referred to herein as HPMS (high proper motion star). The discovery came as a result of a search of the SkyMorph database, a sensitive and persistent survey that is well suited for finding stars with high proper motions. There are currently only 7 known stars with proper motions greater than 5 arcsec/yr. We have determined a preliminary value for the parallax of pi = 0.43 +/- 0.13 arcsec. If this value holds our new star ranks behind only the Alpha Centauri system (including Proxima Centauri) and Barnard's star in the list of our nearest stellar neighbours. The spectrum and measured tangential velocity indicate that HPMS is a main-sequence star with spectral type M6.5. However, if our distance measurement is correct, the HPMS is underluminous by 1.2 +/- 0.7 mag.

  4. The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment Catalog of stellar proper motions in the OGLE-II Galactic bulge fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sumi, T.; Wu, X.; Udalski, A.; Szymański, M.; Kubiak, M.; Pietrzyński, G.; Soszyński, I.; Woźniak, P.; Zebruń, K.; Szewczyk, O.; Wyrzykowski, L.

    2003-12-01

    We present proper motion (μ ) catalogue of 5,078,188 stars in 49 Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment II (OGLE-II) Galactic bulge fields, with the total area close to 11 square degrees. The proper motion measurements are based on 138 - 555 I-band images taken during four observing seasons: 1997-2000. The catalogue stars are in the magnitude range 11 < I < 18 mag. In particular, the catalogue includes Red Clump Giants (RCGs) and Red Giants in the Galactic Bulge, and main sequence stars in the Galactic disc. The proper motions up to μ = 500 mas yr -1 were measured with the mean accuracy of 0.8 ˜ 3.5 mas yr-1, depending on the brightness of a star. This catalogue may be useful for studying the kinematic of stars in the Galactic Bulge and the Galactic disk with Extinction maps in these fields which are construncted by using two-band photometry of RCGs.

  5. Proper motion of the Draco dwarf galaxy based on Hubble space telescope imaging

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pryor, Carlton; Piatek, Slawomir; Olszewski, Edward W., E-mail: pryor@physics.rutgers.edu, E-mail: piatek@physics.rutgers.edu, E-mail: eolszewski@as.arizona.edu

    2015-02-01

    We have measured the proper motion of the Draco dwarf galaxy using images at two epochs with a time baseline of about two years taken with the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys. Wide Field Channels 1 and 2 provide two adjacent fields, each containing a known QSO. The zero point for the proper motion is determined using both background galaxies and the QSOs and the two methods produce consistent measurements within each field. Averaging the results from the two fields gives a proper motion in the equatorial coordinate system of (μ{sub α},μ{sub δ})=(17.7±6.3,−22.1±6.3) mas century{sup −1} and inmore » the Galactic coordinate system of (μ{sub ℓ},μ{sub b})=(−23.1±6.3,−16.3±6.3) mas century{sup −1}. Removing the contributions of the motion of the Sun and of the LSR to the measured proper motion yields a Galactic rest-frame proper motion of (μ{sub α}{sup Grf},μ{sub δ}{sup Grf})=(51.4±6.3,−18.7±6.3) mas century{sup −1} and (μ{sub ℓ}{sup Grf},μ{sub b}{sup Grf})=(−21.8±6.3,−50.1±6.3) mas century{sup −1}. The implied space velocity with respect to the Galactic center is (Π,Θ,Z)=(27±14,89±25,−212±20) km s{sup −1}. This velocity implies that the orbital inclination is 70{sup ∘}, with a 95% confidence interval of (59{sup ∘},80{sup ∘}), and that the plane of the orbit is consistent with that of the vast polar structure (VPOS) of Galactic satellite galaxies.« less

  6. Proper motions and membership probabilities of stars in the region of globular cluster NGC 6366

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sariya, Devesh P.; Yadav, R. K. S.

    2015-12-01

    Context. NGC 6366 is a metal-rich globular cluster that is relatively unstudied. It is a kinematically interesting cluster, reported as belonging to the slowly rotating halo system, which is unusual given its metallicity and spatial location in the Galaxy. Aims: The purpose of this research is to determine the relative proper motion and membership probability of the stars in the region of globular cluster NGC 6366. To target cluster members reliably during spectroscopic surveys without including field stars, a good proper motion and membership probability catalogue of NGC 6366 is needed. Methods: To derive relative proper motions, the archival data from the Wide Field Imager mounted on the ESO 2.2 m telescope have been reduced using a high precision astrometric software. The images used are in the B,V, and I photometric bands with an epoch gap of ~3.2 yr. The calibrated BVI magnitudes have been determined using recent data for secondary standard stars. Results: We determined relative proper motions and cluster membership probabilities for 2530 stars in the field of globular cluster NGC 6366. The median proper motion rms errors for stars brighter than V ~ 18 mag is ~2 mas yr-1, which gradually increases to ~5 mas yr-1 for stars having magnitudes V ~ 20 mag. Based on the membership catalogue, we checked the membership status of the X-ray sources and variable stars of NGC 6366 mentioned in the literature. We also provide the astronomical community with an electronic catalogue that includes B, V, and I magnitudes; relative proper motions; and membership probabilities of the stars in the region of NGC 6366. Based on observations with the MPG/ESO 2.2 m and ESO/VLT telescopes, located at La Silla and Paranal Observatory, Chile, under DDT programs 164.O-0561(F), 71.D-0220(A) and the archive material.Full Table 4 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/584/A59

  7. UCAC3 Proper Motion Survey. 2. Discovery of New Proper Motion Stars in UCAC3 with 0.40 yr-1 micro or = 0.18 yr-1 between Declinations -47 deg and 00 deg

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-02-01

    Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ) infrared photometry. We find five new red dwarf systems estimated to be within 25 pc. These discoveries support results...re-reduction of the pixel data (Zacharias 2010). In addition, data from the Two Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ) were used in UCAC3 to probe for and...errors ranging from 50 to 200 mas when compared to 2MASS data. To identify previously known high proper motion (HPM) stars in the UCAC3, a source list was

  8. Photometric detection of high proper motions in dense stellar fields using difference image analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eyer, L.; Woźniak, P. R.

    2001-10-01

    The difference image analysis (DIA) of the images obtained by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE-II) revealed a peculiar artefact in the sample of stars proposed as variable by Woźniak in one of the Galactic bulge fields: the occurrence of pairs of candidate variables showing anti-correlated light curves monotonic over a period of 3yr. This effect can be understood, quantified and related to the stellar proper motions. DIA photometry supplemented with a simple model offers an effective and easy way to detect high proper motion stars in very dense stellar fields, where conventional astrometric searches are extremely inefficient.

  9. The US Naval Observatory Zodiacal Zone Catalog (Douglas and Harrington 1990): Documentation for the machine-readable version

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Warren, Wayne H., Jr.

    1990-01-01

    The machine readable version of the catalog, as it is currently being distributed from the Astronomical Data Center, is described. The Zodiacal Zone Catalog is a catalog of positions and proper motions for stars in the magnitude range where m sub v is between 4 and 10, lying within 16 deg of the ecliptic and north of declination -30 deg. The catalog contains positions and proper motions, at epoch, for equator and equinox J2000.0, magnitudes and spectral types taken mostly from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalog, and reference positions and proper motions for equinox and epoch B1950.0.

  10. Positions and proper motions of dwarf carbon stars

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Deutsch, Eric W.

    1994-01-01

    Recent-epochs positions and proper motions of nine dwarf carbon star candidates are presented along with finding charts for each object. Measurements are obtained from digitized Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS) and Quik V plate archives at the Space Telescope Science Institute, and from recent CCD images.

  11. Proper Motions of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies from Hubble Space Telescope Imaging. II. Measurement for Carina

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piatek, Slawomir; Pryor, Carlton; Olszewski, Edward W.; Harris, Hugh C.; Mateo, Mario; Minniti, Dante; Tinney, Christopher G.

    2003-11-01

    This article presents and discusses a measurement of the proper motion for the Carina dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph) from images in two distinct fields in the direction of Carina taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, at three epochs. Each field contains a confirmed quasi-stellar object that is the reference point for measuring the proper motion of the dSph. The consecutive epochs are 1-2 yr apart. The components of the measured proper motion for Carina, expressed in the equatorial coordinate system, are μα=22+/-9 mas century-1 and μδ=15+/-9 mas century-1. The quoted proper motion is a weighted mean of two independent measurements and has not been corrected for the motions of the Sun and of the local standard of rest. Given the proper motion and its uncertainty, integrating the family of possible orbits of Carina in a realistic gravitational potential for the Milky Way indicates that Carina is bound gravitationally to the Milky Way and is close to apogalacticon. The best estimate of, and the 95% confidence interval for, the apogalacticon of the orbit is 102 kpc and (102,113) kpc, for the perigalacticon is 20 kpc and (3.0,63) kpc, and for the orbital period is 1.4 Gyr and (1.3,2.0) Gyr. Carina does not seem to be on a polar orbit. The best estimate of the inclination of the orbit with respect to the Galactic plane is 39°, but the 95% confidence interval is so wide, (23°,102°), that it includes a polar orbit. We are unable to confirm or to rule out the membership of Carina in a ``stream'' of galaxies in the Galactic halo because the difference between the observed and predicted directions of the proper motion is 1.6 times the uncertainty of the difference. Carina must contain dark matter to have survived the tidal interaction with the Milky Way until the present. The triggering of star formation by perigalacticon passages and crossings of the Galactic disk do not explain the history of star formation in Carina. Based on observations with NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

  12. Is the vast polar structure of dwarf galaxies a serious problem for Λ cold dark matter?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lipnicky, Andrew; Chakrabarti, Sukanya

    2017-06-01

    The dwarf galaxies around the Milky Way are distributed in a so-called vast polar structure (VPOS) that may be in conflict with Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM) simulations. Here, we seek to determine if the VPOS poses a serious challenge to the ΛCDM paradigm on galactic scales. Specifically, we investigate if the VPOS remains coherent as a function of time. Using the measured Hubble Space Telescope (HST) proper motions and associated uncertainties, we integrate the orbits of the classical Milky Way satellites backwards in time and find that the structure disperses well before a dynamical time. We also examine, in particular, Leo I and Leo II using their most recent proper motion data, both of which have extreme kinematic properties, but these satellites do not appear to drive the polar fit that is seen at the present day. We have studied the effect of the uncertainties on the HST proper motions on the coherence of the VPOS as a function of time. We find that 8 of the 11 classical dwarfs have reliable proper motions; for these eight, the VPOS also loses significance in less than a dynamical time, indicating that the VPOS is not a dynamically stable structure. Obtaining more accurate proper motion measurements of Ursa Minor, Sculptor and Carina would bolster these conclusions.

  13. Temporal ventriloquism along the path of apparent motion: speed perception under different spatial grouping principles.

    PubMed

    Ogulmus, Cansu; Karacaoglu, Merve; Kafaligonul, Hulusi

    2018-03-01

    The coordination of intramodal perceptual grouping and crossmodal interactions plays a critical role in constructing coherent multisensory percepts. However, the basic principles underlying such coordinating mechanisms still remain unclear. By taking advantage of an illusion called temporal ventriloquism and its influences on perceived speed, we investigated how audiovisual interactions in time are modulated by the spatial grouping principles of vision. In our experiments, we manipulated the spatial grouping principles of proximity, uniform connectedness, and similarity/common fate in apparent motion displays. Observers compared the speed of apparent motions across different sound timing conditions. Our results revealed that the effects of sound timing (i.e., temporal ventriloquism effects) on perceived speed also existed in visual displays containing more than one object and were modulated by different spatial grouping principles. In particular, uniform connectedness was found to modulate these audiovisual interactions in time. The effect of sound timing on perceived speed was smaller when horizontal connecting bars were introduced along the path of apparent motion. When the objects in each apparent motion frame were not connected or connected with vertical bars, the sound timing was more influential compared to the horizontal bar conditions. Overall, our findings here suggest that the effects of sound timing on perceived speed exist in different spatial configurations and can be modulated by certain intramodal spatial grouping principles such as uniform connectedness.

  14. White light sunspot observations from the Solar Optical Universal Polarimeter on Spacelab-2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shine, R. A.; Title, A. M.; Tarbell, T. D.; Topka, K. P.

    1987-01-01

    The flight of the Solar Optical Universal Polarimeter on Spacelab-2 provided the opportunity for the collection of time sequences of diffraction-limited (0.5 arcsec) solar images with excellent pointing stability (0.003 arcsec) and with freedom from the distortion that plagues ground-based images. A series of white-light images of active region 4682 were obtained on August 5, 1985, and the area containing the sunspot has been analyzed. These data have been digitally processed to remove noise and to separate waves from low-velocity material motions. The results include: (1) proper motion measurements of a radial outflow in the photospheric granulation pattern just outside the penumbra; (2) discovery of occasional bright structures ('streakers') that appear to be ejected outward from the penumbra; (3) broad dark 'clouds' moving outward in the penumbra, in addition to the well-known bright penumbral grains moving inward; (4) apparent extensions and contractions of penumbral filaments over the photosphere; and (5) observation of a faint bubble or looplike structure that seems to expand from two bright penumbral filaments into the photosphere.

  15. The Actual Mass of the Object Orbiting Epsilon Eridani

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gatewood, G.

    2000-10-01

    We have tested our 112 Multichannel Astrometric Photometer (MAP) (Gatewood 1987, AJ 94, 213) observations (beginning in 1988) of Epsilon Eridani against the orbital elements provided to us by W. Cochran (private communication). The reduction algorithm is detailed most recently by Gatewood, Han, and Black (2000 ApJ Letters, in press). The seven year period is clearly shown in a variance vs trial periods plot. Although it is near the limit of the current instrument, the astrometric orbital motion is apparent in the residuals to a standard derivation of the star's proper motion and parallax. The astrometric orbital parameters derived by forcing the spectroscopic elements are: semimajor axis = 1.51 +/- 0.44 mas, node of the orbit on the sky = 120 +/- 28 deg, inclination out of the plane of the sky = 46 +/- 17 deg, actual mass = 1.2 +/- 0.33 times that of Jupiter. Our study confirms this object (this is not a minimum mass) as the nearest extrasolar Jupiter mass companion to our solar system. In view of its large orbital eccentricity, however, its exact nature remains unclear.

  16. The Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Visual Motion Priming

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-07-01

    859. Barden, W. (1982, June). A general-purpose I/O board for the Color Computer. BYTE Magazine, pp. 260-281. B . ->,.. H . & Levick , W. (1965). The... B y ...... . ........ Distribution I Availability Codes Avail and i or Dist Special DTIC qU(A~ry niNPETEM 3 iii ABSTRACT THE...bistable diamond, apparent motion figure 52 (after Ramachandran & Anstis, 1983). ( b ) "Streaming" and "bouncing" percepts of apparent 52 motion dot

  17. Spatial Attention and Audiovisual Interactions in Apparent Motion

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Sanabria, Daniel; Soto-Faraco, Salvador; Spence, Charles

    2007-01-01

    In this study, the authors combined the cross-modal dynamic capture task (involving the horizontal apparent movement of visual and auditory stimuli) with spatial cuing in the vertical dimension to investigate the role of spatial attention in cross-modal interactions during motion perception. Spatial attention was manipulated endogenously, either…

  18. Searching for High Proper Motion Sources Towards the Galactic Center using Convolution Neural Networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giongo Fernandes, Alexandre; Benjamin, Robert A.; Babler, Brian

    2018-01-01

    Two sets of infrared images of the Galactic Center region (|L|< 1 degree and |B| < 0.75 degrees) taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope in IRAC 3.6 micron and 4.5 micron bands are searched for high proper motion objects (> 100 mas/year). The two image sets come from GALCEN observations in 2005 and GLIMPSE proper observations in 2015 with matched observation modes. We use three different methods to search for these objects in extremely crowded fields: (1) comparing matched point source lists, (2) crowd sourcing by several college introductory astronomy classes in the state of Wisconsin (700 volunteers), and (3) convolutional neural networks trained using objects from the previous two methods. Before our search six high proper objects were known, four of which were found by the VVV near-infrared Galactic plane survey. We compare and describe our methods for this search, and present a preliminary catalog of high proper motions objects.

  19. Amodal representation of occluded surfaces: role of invisible stimuli in apparent motion correspondence.

    PubMed

    Shimojo, S; Nakayama, K

    1990-01-01

    A series of demonstrations were created where the perceived depth of targets was controlled by stereoscopic disparity. A closer object (a cloud) was made to jump back and forth horizontally, partially occluding a farther object (a full moon). The more distant moon appeared stationary even though the unoccluded portion of it, a crescent, changed position. Reversal of the relative depth of the moon and cloud gave a totally different percept: the crescent appeared to flip back and forth in the front depth plane. Thus, the otherwise-robust apparent motion of the moon crescents was completely abolished in the cloud-closer case alone. This motion-blocking effect is attributed to the 'amodal presence' of the occluded surface continuing behind the occluding surface. To measure the effect of this occluded 'invisible' surface quantitatively, a bistable apparent motion display was used (Ramachandran and Anstis 1983a): two small rectangular-shaped targets changed their positions back and forth between two frames, and the disparity of a large centrally positioned rectangle was varied. When the perceived depths supported the possibility of amodal completion behind the large rectangle, increased vertical motion of the targets was found, suggesting that the amodal presence of the targets behind the occluder had effectively changed the center position of the moving targets for purposes of motion correspondence. Amodal contours are literally 'invisible', yet it is hypothesized that they have a neural representation at sufficiently early stages of visual processing to alter the correspondence solving process for apparent motion.

  20. On the Definition of Aberration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Minghui; Wang, Guangli

    2014-12-01

    There was a groundbreaking step in the history of astronomy in 1728 when the effect of aberration was discovered by James Bradley (1693-1762). Recently, the solar acceleration, due to the variations in the aberrational effect of extragalactic sources caused by it, has been determined from VLBI observations with an uncertainty of about 0.5 mm{\\cdot}{s^{-1}}{\\cdot}{yr^{-1}} level. As a basic concept in astrometry with a nearly 300-year history, the definition of aberration, however, is still equivocal and discordant in the literature. It has been under continuing debate whether it depends on the relative motion between the observer and the observed source or only on the motion of the observer with respect to the frame of reference. In this paper, we will review the debate and the inconsistency in the definition of the aberration since the last century, and then discuss its definition in detail, which involves the discussions on the planetary aberration, the stellar aberration, the proper motion of an object during the travel time of light from the object to the observer, and the way of selecting the reference frame to express and distinguish the motions of the source and the observer. The aberration is essentially caused by the transformation between coordinate systems, and consequently quantified by the velocity of the observer with respect to the selected reference frame, independent of the motion of the source. Obviously, this nature is totally different from that of the definition given by the IAU WG NFA (Capitaine, 2007) in 2006, which is stated as, ``the apparent angular displacement of the observed position of a celestial object from its geometric position, caused by the finite velocity of light in combination with the motions of the observer and of the observed object.''

  1. Students' Development of Astronomy Concepts across Time

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Plummer, Julia

    Students in Grades 1, 3, and 8 (N = 60) were interviewed while using a planetarium-like setting that allowed the students to demonstrate their ideas about apparent celestial motion both verbally and with their own motions. Though the older students were generally more accurate in many conceptual areas compared with the younger students, in several areas, the eighth-grade students showed no improvement over the third-grade students. The use of kinesthetic learning techniques in a planetarium program was also explored as a method to improve understanding of celestial motion. Pre- and postinterviews were conducted with participants from seven classes of first- and second-grade students (N = 63). Students showed significant improvement in all areas of apparent celestial motion covered by the planetarium program and surpassed the middle school students' understanding of these concepts in most areas. Based on the results of these studies, a learning progression was developed describing how children may progress through successively more complex ways of understanding apparent celestial motion across elementary grades.

  2. Apparent Solar Tornado-Like Prominences

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Panasenco, Olga; Martin, Sara F.; Velli, Marco

    2014-02-01

    Recent high-resolution observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) have reawakened interest in the old and fascinating phenomenon of solar tornado-like prominences. This class of prominences was first introduced by Pettit ( Astrophys. J. 76, 9, 1932), who studied them over many years. Observations of tornado prominences similar to the ones seen by SDO had already been documented by Secchi ( Le Soleil, 1877). High-resolution and high-cadence multiwavelength data obtained by SDO reveal that the tornado-like appearance of these prominences is mainly an illusion due to projection effects. We discuss two different cases where prominences on the limb might appear to have a tornado-like behavior. One case of apparent vortical motions in prominence spines and barbs arises from the (mostly) 2D counterstreaming plasma motion along the prominence spine and barbs together with oscillations along individual threads. The other case of apparent rotational motion is observed in a prominence cavity and results from the 3D plasma motion along the writhed magnetic fields inside and along the prominence cavity as seen projected on the limb. Thus, the "tornado" impression results either from counterstreaming and oscillations or from the projection on the plane of the sky of plasma motion along magnetic-field lines, rather than from a true vortical motion around an (apparent) vertical or horizontal axis. We discuss the link between tornado-like prominences, filament barbs, and photospheric vortices at their base.

  3. Documentation for the machine-readable version of the Lowell Proper Motion Survey northern hemisphere, the G numbered stars

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Warren, W. H., Jr.

    1982-01-01

    Observed positions, proper motions, estimated photographic magnitudes and colors, and references to identifications in other catalogs are included. Photoelectric data on the UBV system are included for many stars, but no attempt was made to find all existing photometry. The machine-readable catalog is described.

  4. Calculating Proper Motions in the WFCAM Science Archive for the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Surveys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Collins, R.; Hambly, N.

    2012-09-01

    The ninth data release from the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Surveys (hereafter UKIDSS DR9), represents five years worth of observations by its wide-field camera (WFCAM) and will be the first to include proper motion values in its source catalogues for the shallow, wide-area surveys; the Large Area Survey (LAS), Galactic Clusters Survey (GCS) and (ultimately) Galactic Plane Survey (GPS). We, the Wide Field Astronomy Unit (WFAU) at the University of Edinburgh who prepare these regular data releases in the WFCAM Science Archive (WSA), describe in this paper how we make optimal use of the individual detection catalogues from each observation to derive high-quality astrometric fits for the positions of each detection enabling us to calculate a proper motion solution across multiple epochs and passbands when constructing a merged source catalogue. We also describe how the proper motion solutions affect the calculation of the various attributes provided in the database source catalogue tables, what measures of data quality we provide and a demonstration of the results for observations of the Pleiades cluster.

  5. X-Ray Measured Dynamics of Tycho's Supernova Remnant

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Katsuda, Satoru; Petre, Robert; Hughes, John; Hwang, Una; Yamaguchi, Hiroya; Hayato, Asami; Mori, Koji; Tsunemi, Hiroshi

    2010-01-01

    We present X-ray proper-motion measurements of the forward shock and reverse-shocked ejecta in Tycho's supernova remnant, based on three sets of archival Chandra data taken in 2000, 2003, and 2007. We find that the proper motion of the edge of the remnant (i.e., the forward shock and protruding ejecta knots) varies from 0.''20 yr-1 (expansion index m = 0.33, where R = tm ) to 0.''40 yr-1 (m = 0.65) with azimuthal angle in 2000-2007 measurements, and 0.''14 yr-1 (m = 0.26) to 0.''40 yr-1 (m = 0.65) in 2003-2007 measurements. The azimuthal variation of the proper motion and the average expansion index of [approx]0.5 are consistent with those derived from radio observations. We also find proper motion and expansion index of the reverse-shocked ejecta to be 0.''21-0.''31 yr-1 and 0.43-0.64, respectively. From a comparison of the measured m-value with Type Ia supernova evolutionary models, we find a pre-shock ambient density around the remnant of [less, similar]0.2 cm-3.

  6. Flipping about the Sun and Its Pattern of Apparent Motion

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Betts, Crystal M.; Pattee, Allison

    2016-01-01

    Arts integration has shown to enhance student comprehension, retention, and engagement, while connecting to rich science content. The integration of the Next Generation Science Standards and the National Arts Standards into a first grade lesson illustrated how the arts enhanced the students' understandings of the sun's apparent motion during the…

  7. A Proper Motion Search for Stars Escaping from Globular Clusters with High Velocities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meusinger, H.; Scholz, R.-D.; Irwin, M.

    The dynamical evolution of globular clusters, in particular during the late phases, may be strongly influenced by the energy transfer from binaries to passing stars. As a by-product of this process, stars with high velocities are expected, perhaps high enough to escape from the cluster. Accurate proper motions are the only suitable tool to identify candidates for such high-velocity cluster stars. In order to perform such a search, we use a catalogue of absolute proper motions and UBV magnitudes for about 104 stars with B < 20 in a field of 10 square degrees centered on the globular cluster M3. The data were derived from more than 80 photographic plates taken between 1965 and 1995 with the Tautenburg Schmidt telescope and measured by means of the APM facility, Cambridge. The stellar sample is complete to B = 18.5 and comprises nearly all post-main-sequence stars in the halo of M3 and its surrounding. The proper motions are of Hipparcos-like accuracy (median error 1 mas/yr) in this magnitude range. We find several dozens of candidates, distributed over the whole field, with proper motions and colours consistent with the assumption of their origin from the cluster. Further conclusions can be drawn only on the basis of radial velocity measurements for the candidates and of estimates for the field-star contamination by means of simulations of the Galactic structure and kinematics in this field.

  8. A Gaia-PS1-SDSS (GPS1) Proper Motion Catalog Covering 3/4 of the Sky

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tian, Hai-Jun; Gupta, Prashansa; Sesar, Branimir; Rix, Hans-Walter; Martin, Nicolas F.; Liu, Chao; Goldman, Bertrand; Platais, Imants; Kudritzki, Rolf-Peter; Waters, Christopher Z.

    2017-09-01

    We combine Gaia DR1, PS1, Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and 2MASS astrometry to measure proper motions for 350 million sources across three-fourths of the sky down to a magnitude of {m}r˜ 20. Using positions of galaxies from PS1, we build a common reference frame for the multi-epoch PS1, single-epoch SDSS and 2MASS data, and calibrate the data in small angular patches to this frame. As the Gaia DR1 excludes resolved galaxy images, we choose a different approach to calibrate its positions to this reference frame: we exploit the fact that the proper motions of stars in these patches are linear. By simultaneously fitting the positions of stars at different epochs of—Gaia DR1, PS1, SDSS, and 2MASS—we construct an extensive catalog of proper motions dubbed GPS1. GPS1 has a characteristic systematic error of less than 0.3 {mas} {{yr}}-1 and a typical precision of 1.5-2.0 {mas} {{yr}}-1. The proper motions have been validated using galaxies, open clusters, distant giant stars, and QSOs. In comparison with other published faint proper motion catalogs, GPS1's systematic error (< 0.3 {mas} {{yr}}-1) should be nearly an order of magnitude better than that of PPMXL and UCAC4 (> 2.0 {mas} {{yr}}-1). Similarly, its precision (˜1.5 {mas} {{yr}}-1) is a four-fold improvement relative to PPMXL and UCAC4 (˜6.0 {mas} {{yr}}-1). For QSOs, the precision of GPS1 is found to be worse (˜2.0-3.0 {mas} {{yr}}-1), possibly due to their particular differential chromatic refraction. The GPS1 catalog will be released online and be available via the VizieR Service and VO Service.

  9. Lick Northern Proper Motion Program: NPM2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jones, B. F.; Hanson, R. B.; Klemola, A. R.

    2000-05-01

    The Lick Northern Proper Motion (NPM) program is nearing completion after a half-century of work. Two-epoch photography began in 1947 and was completed in 1988. Measurements and reductions for proper motions, positions, and two-color photometry in the sky outside the Milky Way (``NPM1'') began in 1975 and were completed in 1992. The Lick NPM1 Catalog, containing 149,000 stars, was distributed in 1993. Work on the Milky Way sky (``NPM2'') comprising some 300,000 stars, began in 1996, and plate measurements were finished in 1999. The NPM program will be completed with the publication of the Lick NPM2 Catalog in 2003. The NPM program will provide absolute proper motions, measured on an inertial system defined by some 50,000 faint galaxies, for over 400,000 stars from 9 < B < 18, covering the northern two-thirds of the sky. Included in the NPM catalogs are many stars of astrophysical interest, anonymous stars for galactic studies, and stars from positional catalogues and proper motion surveys. Current work at Lick encompasses data reductions and star identifications for NPM2. Procedures are based on NPM1, with appropriate modifications. Reference galaxies are not available in the Milky Way sky, so the Hipparcos Catalogue is used to link the NPM2 proper motions to the inertial system defined by NPM1. The large number of stars in NPM2 reflects the higher density of stars near the Galactic plane and toward the Galactic center. The NPM catalogs will have lasting value as a unique database for future studies in galactic structure, stellar kinematics, and astrometry. As we produce NPM2, we are also applying the NPM data to several outstanding problems in these research fields. We would like to thank Dave Monet and the USNO for measuring the NPM2 plates. We thank the National Science Foundation for its continued support of the NPM program. The work reported here was supported by NSF grant AST 9530632.

  10. Dynamical analysis of nearby clusters. Automated astrometry from the ground: precision proper motions over a wide field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouy, H.; Bertin, E.; Moraux, E.; Cuillandre, J.-C.; Bouvier, J.; Barrado, D.; Solano, E.; Bayo, A.

    2013-06-01

    Context. The kinematic properties of the different classes of objects in a given association hold important clues about the history of its members, and offer a unique opportunity to test the predictions of the various models of stellar formation and evolution. Aims: DANCe (standing for dynamical analysis of nearby clusters) is a survey program aimed at deriving a comprehensive and homogeneous census of the stellar and substellar content of a number of nearby (<1 kpc) young (<500 Myr) associations. Whenever possible, members will be identified based on their kinematics properties, ensuring little contamination from background and foreground sources. Otherwise, the dynamics of previously confirmed members will be studied using the proper motion measurements. We present here the method used to derive precise proper motion measurements, using the Pleiades cluster as a test bench. Methods: Combining deep wide-field multi-epoch panchromatic images obtained at various obervatories over up to 14 years, we derived accurate proper motions for the sources in the field of the survey. The datasets cover ≈80 square degrees, centered around the Seven Sisters. Results: Using new tools, we have computed a catalog of 6 116 907 unique sources, including proper motion measurements for 3 577 478 of them. The catalog covers the magnitude range between i = 12 ~ 24 mag, achieving a proper motion accuracy <1 mas y-1 for sources as faint as i = 22.5 mag. We estimate that our final accuracy reaches 0.3 mas yr-1 in the best cases, depending on magnitude, observing history, and the presence of reference extragalactic sources for the anchoring onto the ICRS. Based on observations obtained with MegaPrime/MegaCam, a joint project of CFHT and CEA/DAPNIA, at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) which is operated by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, the Institut National des Science de l'Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) of France, and the University of Hawaii.

  11. Constraining the Mass of the Local Group through Proper Motion Measurements of Local Group Galaxies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sohn, S. Tony; van der Marel, R.; Anderson, J.

    2012-01-01

    The Local Group and its two dominant spiral galaxies have been the benchmark for testing many aspects of cosmological and galaxy formation theories. This includes, e.g., dark halo profiles and shapes, substructure and the "missing satellite" problem, and the minimum mass for galaxy formation. But despite the extensive work in all of these areas, our knowledge of the mass of the Milky Way and M31, and thus the total mass of the Local Group remains one of the most poorly established astronomical parameters (uncertain by a factor of 4). One important reason for this problem is the lack of information in tangential motions of galaxies, which can be only obtained through proper motion measurements. In this study, we introduce our projects for measuring absolute proper motions of (1) the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I, (2) M31, and (3) the 4 dwarf galaxies near the edge of the Local Group (Cetus, Leo A, Tucana, and Sag DIG). Results from these three independent measurements will provide important clues to the mass of the Milky Way, M31, and the Local Group as a whole, respectively. We also present our proper motion measurement technique that uses compact background galaxies as astrometric reference sources.

  12. Parallel search for conjunctions with stimuli in apparent motion.

    PubMed

    Casco, C; Ganis, G

    1999-01-01

    A series of experiments was conducted to determine whether apparent motion tends to follow the similarity rule (i.e. is attribute-specific) and to investigate the underlying mechanism. Stimulus duration thresholds were measured during a two-alternative forced-choice task in which observers detected either the location or the motion direction of target groups defined by the conjunction of size and orientation. Target element positions were randomly chosen within a nominally defined rectangular subregion of the display (target region). The target region was presented either statically (followed by a 250 ms duration mask) or dynamically, displaced by a small distance (18 min of arc) from frame to frame. In the motion display, the position of both target and background elements was changed randomly from frame to frame within the respective areas to abolish spatial correspondence over time. Stimulus duration thresholds were lower in the motion than in the static task, indicating that target detection in the dynamic condition does not rely on the explicit identification of target elements in each static frame. Increasing the distractor-to-target ratio was found to reduce detectability in the static, but not in the motion task. This indicates that the perceptual segregation of the target is effortless and parallel with motion but not with static displays. The pattern of results holds regardless of the task or search paradigm employed. The detectability in the motion condition can be improved by increasing the number of frames and/or by reducing the width of the target area. Furthermore, parallel search in the dynamic condition can be conducted with both short-range and long-range motion stimuli. Finally, apparent motion of conjunctions is insufficient on its own to support location decision and is disrupted by random visual noise. Overall, these findings show that (i) the mechanism underlying apparent motion is attribute-specific; (ii) the motion system mediates temporal integration of feature conjunctions before they are identified by the static system; and (iii) target detectability in these stimuli relies upon a nonattentive, cooperative, directionally selective motion mechanism that responds to high-level attributes (conjunction of size and orientation).

  13. New visual companions of solar-type stars within 25 pc

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chini, R.; Fuhrmann, K.; Barr, A.; Pozo, F.; Westhues, C.; Hodapp, K.

    2014-01-01

    We report the discovery of faint common-proper-motion companions to the nearby southern solar-type stars HD 43162, HD 67199, HD 114837, HD 114853, HD 129502, HD 165185, HD 197214 and HD 212330 from near-infrared imaging and astrometry. We also confirm the previously identified tertiary components around HD 165401 and HD 188088. Since the majority of these stars were already known as binaries, they ascend now to higher level systems. A particularly interesting case is the G6.5 V BY Dra-type variable HD 43162, which harbours two common-proper-motion companions at distances of 410 and 2740 au. Our limited study shows that the inventory of common-proper-motion companions around nearby bright stars is still not completely known.

  14. Proper Motions of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies from Hubble Space Telescope Imaging. V. Final Measurement for Fornax

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piatek, Slawomir; Pryor, Carlton; Bristow, Paul; Olszewski, Edward W.; Harris, Hugh C.; Mateo, Mario; Minniti, Dante; Tinney, Christopher G.

    2007-03-01

    The measured proper motion of Fornax, expressed in the equatorial coordinate system, is (μα,μδ)=(47.6+/-4.6,-36.0+/-4.1) mas century-1. This proper motion is a weighted mean of four independent measurements for three distinct fields. Each measurement uses a quasi-stellar object as a reference point. Removing the contribution of the motion of the Sun and of the local standard of rest to the measured proper motion produces a Galactic rest-frame proper motion of (μGrfα,μGrfδ)=(24.4+/-4.6,-14.3+/-4.1) mas century-1. The implied space velocity with respect to the Galactic center has a radial component of Vr=-31.8+/-1.7 km s-1 and a tangential component of Vt=196+/-29 km s-1. Integrating the motion of Fornax in a realistic potential for the Milky Way produces orbital elements. The perigalacticon and apogalacticon are 118 (66, 137) and 152 (144, 242) kpc, respectively, where the values in the parentheses represent the 95% confidence intervals derived from Monte Carlo experiments. The eccentricity of the orbit is 0.13 (0.11, 0.38), and the orbital period is 3.2 (2.5, 4.6) Gyr. The orbit is retrograde and inclined by 101° (94°, 107°) to the Galactic plane. Fornax could be a member of a proposed ``stream'' of galaxies and globular clusters; however, the membership of another proposed galaxy in the stream, Sculptor, has been previously ruled out. Fornax is in the Kroupa-Theis-Boily plane, which contains 11 of the Galactic satellite galaxies, but its orbit will take it out of that plane. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

  15. Outer rotation curve of the Galaxy with VERA. II. Annual parallax and proper motion of the star-forming region IRAS 21379+5106

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nakanishi, Hiroyuki; Sakai, Nobuyuki; Kurayama, Tomoharu; Matsuo, Mitsuhiro; Imai, Hiroshi; Burns, Ross A.; Ozawa, Takeaki; Honma, Mareki; Shibata, Katsunori M.; Kawaguchi, Noriyuki

    2015-08-01

    We conducted astrometric very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of water-vapor maser emission in the massive star-forming region IRAS 21379+5106 in order to measure the annual parallax and proper motion, using VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA). The annual parallax measured 0.262 ± 0.031 mas, corresponding to a distance of 3.82^{+0.51}_{-0.41}kpc. The proper motion was (μαcos δ, μδ) = (-2.74 ± 0.08, -2.87 ± 0.18) mas yr-1. By using this result, the Galactic rotational velocity was estimated to be Vθ = 218 ± 19 km s-1 at the galactocentric distance R = 9.22 ± 0.43 kpc, when we adopted the Galactic constants R0 = 8.05 ± 0.45 kpc and V0 = 238 ± 14 km s-1. With the newly determined distance, the bolometric luminosity of the central young stellar object was reestimated to be (2.15 ± 0.54) × 103 L⊙, which corresponds to the spectral type of B2-B3. The maser features were found to be distributed along a straight line extending from the southwest to the northeast. In addition, a vector map of the internal motions, constructed from the residual proper motions, implies that the maser features trace a bipolar flow, and that it cannot be explained by simple ballistic motions.

  16. Large seismic source imaging from old analogue seismograms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Caldeira, Bento; Buforn, Elisa; Borges, José; Bezzeghoud, Mourad

    2017-04-01

    In this work we present a procedure to recover the ground motions by a proper digital structure, from old seismograms in analogue physical support (paper or microfilm) to study the source rupture process, by application of modern finite source inversion tools. Despite the quality that the analog data and the digitizing technologies available may have, recover the ground motions with the accurate metrics from old seismograms, is often an intricate procedure. Frequently the general parameters of the analogue instruments response that allow recover the shape of the ground motions (free periods and damping) are known, but the magnification that allow recover the metric of these motions is dubious. It is in these situations that the procedure applies. The procedure is based on assign of the moment magnitude value to the integral of the apparent Source Time Function (STF), estimated by deconvolution of a synthetic elementary seismogram from the related observed seismogram, corrected with an instrument response affected by improper magnification. Two delicate issues in the process are 1) the calculus of the synthetic elementary seismograms that must consider later phases if applied to large earthquakes (the portions of signal should be 3 or 4 times larger than the rupture time) and 2) the deconvolution to calculate the apparent STF. In present version of the procedure was used the Direct Solution Method to compute the elementary seismograms and the deconvolution was processed in time domain by an iterative algorithm that allow constrains the STF to stay positive and time limited. The method was examined using synthetic data to test the accuracy and robustness. Finally, a set of 17 real old analog seismograms from the Santa Maria (Azores) 1939 earthquake (Mw=7.1) was used in order to recover the waveforms in the required digital structure, from which by inversion allows compute the finite source rupture model (slip distribution). Acknowledgements: This work is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund under COMPETE 2020 (Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization) through the ICT project (UID / GEO / 04683/2013) under the reference POCI-01-0145 -FEDER-007690.

  17. On the origin of the Monoceros Ring - I. Kinematics, proper motions, and the nature of the progenitor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guglielmo, Magda; Lane, Richard R.; Conn, Blair C.; Ho, Anna Y. Q.; Ibata, Rodrigo A.; Lewis, Geraint F.

    2018-03-01

    The Monoceros Ring (MRi) structure is an apparent stellar overdensity that has been postulated to entirely encircle the Galactic plane and has been variously described as being due to line-of-sight effects of the Galactic warp and flare or of extragalactic origin (via accretion). Despite being intensely scrutinized in the literature for more than a decade, no studies to date have been able to definitively uncover its origins. Here we use N-body simulations and a genetic algorithm to explore the parameter space for the initial position, orbital parameters, and, for the first time, the final location of a satellite progenitor. We fit our models to the latest Pan-STARRS data to determine whether an accretion scenario is capable of producing an in-plane ring-like structure matching the known parameters of the MRi. Our simulations produce streams that closely match the location, proper motion, and kinematics of the MRi structure. However, we are not able to reproduce the mass estimates from earlier studies based on Pan-STARRS data. Furthermore, in contrast to earlier studies, our best-fitting models are those for progenitors on retrograde orbits. If the MRi was produced by satellite accretion, we find that its progenitor has an initial mass upper limit of ˜1010 M⊙ and the remnant is likely located behind the Galactic bulge, making it difficult to locate observationally. While our models produce realistic MRi-like structures, we cannot definitively conclude that the MRi was produced by the accretion of a satellite galaxy.

  18. The equation of motion for a radiating charged particle without self-interaction term

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Herrera, L.

    1990-03-01

    The motion of a radiating charged particle is studied from the point of view of relativistic classical mechanics. Thus, the resulting equation of motion emerges from equating the total rate of change of momentum to the external force, without the introduction of a “self-force” term. Doing so, one is forced to abandon either one, or both, of the following restrictions: (a) the external force is non-dissipative, (b) the proper mass of the particle is constant. By abandoning (a) we obtain the Mo and Papas equation of motion, whereas allowing variations in the proper mass one is led, uniquely, to the Bonnor equation. A new equation of motion is proposed by abandoning both (a) and (b).

  19. Visual Benefits in Apparent Motion Displays: Automatically Driven Spatial and Temporal Anticipation Are Partially Dissociated

    PubMed Central

    Ahrens, Merle-Marie; Veniero, Domenica; Gross, Joachim; Harvey, Monika; Thut, Gregor

    2015-01-01

    Many behaviourally relevant sensory events such as motion stimuli and speech have an intrinsic spatio-temporal structure. This will engage intentional and most likely unintentional (automatic) prediction mechanisms enhancing the perception of upcoming stimuli in the event stream. Here we sought to probe the anticipatory processes that are automatically driven by rhythmic input streams in terms of their spatial and temporal components. To this end, we employed an apparent visual motion paradigm testing the effects of pre-target motion on lateralized visual target discrimination. The motion stimuli either moved towards or away from peripheral target positions (valid vs. invalid spatial motion cueing) at a rhythmic or arrhythmic pace (valid vs. invalid temporal motion cueing). Crucially, we emphasized automatic motion-induced anticipatory processes by rendering the motion stimuli non-predictive of upcoming target position (by design) and task-irrelevant (by instruction), and by creating instead endogenous (orthogonal) expectations using symbolic cueing. Our data revealed that the apparent motion cues automatically engaged both spatial and temporal anticipatory processes, but that these processes were dissociated. We further found evidence for lateralisation of anticipatory temporal but not spatial processes. This indicates that distinct mechanisms may drive automatic spatial and temporal extrapolation of upcoming events from rhythmic event streams. This contrasts with previous findings that instead suggest an interaction between spatial and temporal attention processes when endogenously driven. Our results further highlight the need for isolating intentional from unintentional processes for better understanding the various anticipatory mechanisms engaged in processing behaviourally relevant stimuli with predictable spatio-temporal structure such as motion and speech. PMID:26623650

  20. VizieR Online Data Catalog: OB association members in ACT+TRC Catalogs (Hoogerwerf, 2000)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hoogerwerf, R.

    2000-05-01

    The Hipparcos Catalogue (Cat. I/239) contains members of nearby OB associations brighter than 12th magnitude in V. However, membership lists are complete only to magnitude V=7.3. In this paper we discuss whether proper motions listed in the `Astrographic Catalogue+Tycho' reference catalogue (ACT, Cat. I/246) and the Tycho Reference Catalogue (TRC, Cat. I/250), which are complete to V~10.5mag, can be used to find additional association members. Proper motions in the ACT/TRC have an average accuracy of ~3mas/yr. We search for ACT/TRC stars which have proper motions consistent with the spatial velocity of the Hipparcos members of the nearby OB associations already identified by de Zeeuw et al. (1999, Cat. J/AJ/117/354). These stars are first selected using a convergent-point method, and then subjected to further constraints on the proper-motion distribution, magnitude and colour to narrow down the final number of candidate members. Monte Carlo simulations show that the proper-motion distribution, magnitude, and colour constraints remove ~97% of the field stars, while at the same time retain more than 90% of the cluster stars. The procedure has been applied to five nearby associations: the three subgroups of Sco OB2, plus Per OB3 and Cep OB6. In all cases except Cep OB6, we find evidence for new association members fainter than the completeness limit of the Hipparcos Catalogue. However, narrow-band photometry and/or radial velocities are needed to pinpoint the cluster members, and to study their physical characteristics. (1 data file).

  1. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Proper motions in M 11 (Su+ 1998)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Su, C.-G.; Zhao, J.-L.; Tian, K.-P.

    1997-07-01

    Relative proper motions of 872 stars in the open cluster M 11 region are reduced using 10 plate pairs taken over time baselines of 16~70 years with the double astrograph telescope of Shanghai Observatory. The scale is 30"/mm. The plates were measured with the PDS machines in the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing and the Institute of Technology and Communication in Luoyang, China. The average proper motion accuracy is about 1.1mas/yr with 85% of the data better than 1mas/yr. Membership probabilities of 785 stars within 25' centred on M 11 are determined based on their proper motions. The method used is suggested by Su et al. (1995AcApS..15..217S) with some improvements of Zhao & He (1990A&A...237...54Z), in which the space distribution and magnitude dependencies for cluster stars are taken into account. The results are significantly good. The total integrated membership probabilities for all these stars is 547 and the number of stars with probabilities higher than 0.7 is 541. It can be found after the membership determination that there exists mass segregation in M 11. Some comparisons and discussion are also given. (1 data file).

  2. Capturing Motion and Depth Before Cinematography.

    PubMed

    Wade, Nicholas J

    2016-01-01

    Visual representations of biological states have traditionally faced two problems: they lacked motion and depth. Attempts were made to supply these wants over many centuries, but the major advances were made in the early-nineteenth century. Motion was synthesized by sequences of slightly different images presented in rapid succession and depth was added by presenting slightly different images to each eye. Apparent motion and depth were combined some years later, but they tended to be applied separately. The major figures in this early period were Wheatstone, Plateau, Horner, Duboscq, Claudet, and Purkinje. Others later in the century, like Marey and Muybridge, were stimulated to extend the uses to which apparent motion and photography could be applied to examining body movements. These developments occurred before the birth of cinematography, and significant insights were derived from attempts to combine motion and depth.

  3. Modeling a space-variant cortical representation for apparent motion.

    PubMed

    Wurbs, Jeremy; Mingolla, Ennio; Yazdanbakhsh, Arash

    2013-08-06

    Receptive field sizes of neurons in early primate visual areas increase with eccentricity, as does temporal processing speed. The fovea is evidently specialized for slow, fine movements while the periphery is suited for fast, coarse movements. In either the fovea or periphery discrete flashes can produce motion percepts. Grossberg and Rudd (1989) used traveling Gaussian activity profiles to model long-range apparent motion percepts. We propose a neural model constrained by physiological data to explain how signals from retinal ganglion cells to V1 affect the perception of motion as a function of eccentricity. Our model incorporates cortical magnification, receptive field overlap and scatter, and spatial and temporal response characteristics of retinal ganglion cells for cortical processing of motion. Consistent with the finding of Baker and Braddick (1985), in our model the maximum flash distance that is perceived as an apparent motion (Dmax) increases linearly as a function of eccentricity. Baker and Braddick (1985) made qualitative predictions about the functional significance of both stimulus and visual system parameters that constrain motion perception, such as an increase in the range of detectable motions as a function of eccentricity and the likely role of higher visual processes in determining Dmax. We generate corresponding quantitative predictions for those functional dependencies for individual aspects of motion processing. Simulation results indicate that the early visual pathway can explain the qualitative linear increase of Dmax data without reliance on extrastriate areas, but that those higher visual areas may serve as a modulatory influence on the exact Dmax increase.

  4. Kinematics of OB-associations in Gaia epoch

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mel'nik, A. M.; Dambis, A. K.

    2017-12-01

    We use stellar proper motions from the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) catalogue to study the kinematics of OB-associations. The TGAS proper motions of OB-associations generally agree well with the Hipparcos proper motions. The parameters of the Galactic rotation curve obtained with TGAS and Hipparcos proper motions agree within the errors. The average one-dimensional velocity dispersion inside 18 OB-associations with more than 10 TGAS stars is σv = 3.9 km s-1, which is considerably smaller, by a factor of 0.4, than the velocity dispersions derived from Hipparcos data. The effective contribution from orbital motions of binary OB-stars into the velocity dispersion σv inside OB-associations is σb = 1.2 km s-1. The median virial and stellar masses of OB-associations are equal to 7.1 × 105 and 9.0 × 103 M⊙, respectively. Thus, OB-associations must be unbound objects, provided they do not include a lot of dense gas. The median star-formation efficiency is ε = 2.1 per cent. Nearly one-third of stars of OB-associations must lie outside their tidal radius. We found that the Per OB1 and Car OB1 associations are expanding with the expansion started in a small region of 11-27 pc 7-10 Myr ago. The average expansion velocity is 6.3 km s-1.

  5. Proper motion separation of Be stars in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vieira, K.; García, A.; Sabogal, B.

    2018-01-01

    We present a proper motion investigation of a sample of Be stars candidates towards the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which has resulted in the identification of two separate populations, in the Galactic foreground and in the Magellanic background. OGLE BVI and 2MASS JHK photometry were used with the SPM4 proper motions to discriminate the different populations located towards the LMC. Two populations with distinctive infrared colours and noticeable different kinematics were found, the bluer sample is consistent with being in the LMC and the redder one with belonging to the Milky Way (MW) disk. This settles the nature of the redder sample which had been described in previous publications as a possible unknown subclass of stars among the Be candidates in the LMC.

  6. Four years experience in APMS star plate processing - Results and future plans. [Automated Proper Motion Study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Newcomb, J. S.

    1975-01-01

    The present paper describes an automated system for measuring stellar proper motions on the basis of information contained in photographic plates. In this system, the images on a star plate are digitized by a scanning microdensitometer using light from a He-Ne gas laser, and a special-purpose computer arranges the measurements in computer-compatible form on magnetic tape. The scanning and image-reconstruction processes are briefly outlined, and the image-evaluation techniques are discussed. It is shown that the present system has been especially successful in measuring the proper motions of low-luminosity stars, including 119 stars with less than 1/10,000 of the solar bolometric luminosity. Plans for measurements of high-density Milky Way star plates are noted.

  7. Updates on Force Limiting Improvements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kolaini, Ali R.; Scharton, Terry

    2013-01-01

    The following conventional force limiting methods currently practiced in deriving force limiting specifications assume one-dimensional translation source and load apparent masses: Simple TDOF model; Semi-empirical force limits; Apparent mass, etc.; Impedance method. Uncorrelated motion of the mounting points for components mounted on panels and correlated, but out-of-phase, motions of the support structures are important and should be considered in deriving force limiting specifications. In this presentation "rock-n-roll" motions of the components supported by panels, which leads to a more realistic force limiting specifications are discussed.

  8. Proper Motions of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies from Hubble Space Telescope Imaging. IV. Measurement for Sculptor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piatek, Slawomir; Pryor, Carlton; Bristow, Paul; Olszewski, Edward W.; Harris, Hugh C.; Mateo, Mario; Minniti, Dante; Tinney, Christopher G.

    2006-03-01

    This article presents a measurement of the proper motion of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy determined from images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph in the imaging mode. Each of two distinct fields contains a quasi-stellar object that serves as the ``reference point.'' The measured proper motion of Sculptor, expressed in the equatorial coordinate system, is (μα, μδ)=(9+/-13, 2+/-13) mas century-1. Removing the contributions from the motion of the Sun and the motion of the local standard of rest produces the proper motion in the Galactic rest frame: (μGrfα, μGrfδ)=(-23+/-13, 45+/-13) mas century-1. The implied space velocity with respect to the Galactic center has a radial component of Vr=79+/-6 km s-1 and a tangential component of Vt=198+/-50 km s-1. Integrating the motion of Sculptor in a realistic potential for the Milky Way produces orbital elements. The perigalacticon and apogalacticon are 68 (31, 83) and 122 (97, 313) kpc, respectively, where the values in the parentheses represent the 95% confidence interval derived from Monte Carlo experiments. The eccentricity of the orbit is 0.29 (0.26, 0.60), and the orbital period is 2.2 (1.5, 4.9) Gyr. Sculptor is on a polar orbit around the Milky Way: the angle of inclination is 86° (83°, 90°). Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

  9. Proper motions of five OB stars with candidate dusty bow shocks in the Carina Nebula

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kiminki, Megan M.; Smith, Nathan; Reiter, Megan; Bally, John

    2017-06-01

    We constrain the proper motions of five OB stars associated with candidate stellar wind bow shocks in the Carina Nebula using Hubble Space Telescope ACS imaging over 9-10 yr baselines. These proper motions allow us to directly compare each star's motion to the orientation of its candidate bow shock. Although these stars are saturated in our imaging, we assess their motion by the shifts required to minimize residuals in their airy rings. The results limit the direction of each star's motion to sectors less than 90° wide. None of the five stars are moving away from the Carina Nebula's central clusters as runaway stars would be, confirming that a candidate bow shock is not necessarily indicative of a runaway star. Two of the five stars are moving tangentially relative to the orientation of their candidate bow shocks, both of which point at the OB cluster Trumpler 14. In these cases, the large-scale flow of the interstellar medium, powered by feedback from the cluster, appears to dominate over the motion of the star in producing the observed candidate bow shock. The remaining three stars all have some component of motion towards the central clusters, meaning that we cannot distinguish whether their candidate bow shocks are indicators of stellar motion, of the flow of ambient gas or of density gradients in their surroundings. In addition, these stars' lack of outward motion hints that the distributed massive-star population in Carina's South Pillars region formed in place, rather than migrating out from the association's central clusters.

  10. Method for separating video camera motion from scene motion for constrained 3D displacement measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gauthier, L. R.; Jansen, M. E.; Meyer, J. R.

    2014-09-01

    Camera motion is a potential problem when a video camera is used to perform dynamic displacement measurements. If the scene camera moves at the wrong time, the apparent motion of the object under study can easily be confused with the real motion of the object. In some cases, it is practically impossible to prevent camera motion, as for instance, when a camera is used outdoors in windy conditions. A method to address this challenge is described that provides an objective means to measure the displacement of an object of interest in the scene, even when the camera itself is moving in an unpredictable fashion at the same time. The main idea is to synchronously measure the motion of the camera and to use those data ex post facto to subtract out the apparent motion in the scene that is caused by the camera motion. The motion of the scene camera is measured by using a reference camera that is rigidly attached to the scene camera and oriented towards a stationary reference object. For instance, this reference object may be on the ground, which is known to be stationary. It is necessary to calibrate the reference camera by simultaneously measuring the scene images and the reference images at times when it is known that the scene object is stationary and the camera is moving. These data are used to map camera movement data to apparent scene movement data in pixel space and subsequently used to remove the camera movement from the scene measurements.

  11. The VMC survey. XXVIII. Improved measurements of the proper motion of the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Niederhofer, Florian; Cioni, Maria-Rosa L.; Rubele, Stefano; Schmidt, Thomas; Bekki, Kenji; de Grijs, Richard; Emerson, Jim; Ivanov, Valentin D.; Oliveira, Joana M.; Petr-Gotzens, Monika G.; Ripepi, Vincenzo; Sun, Ning-Chen; van Loon, Jacco Th.

    2018-05-01

    We use deep multi-epoch point-spread function (PSF) photometry taken with the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) to measure and analyze the proper motions of stars within the Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae (47 Tuc, NGC 104). The observations are part of the ongoing near-infrared VISTA survey of the Magellanic Cloud system (VMC). The data analyzed in this study correspond to one VMC tile, which covers a total sky area of 1.77 deg2. Absolute proper motions with respect to 9070 background galaxies are calculated from a linear regression model applied to the positions of stars in 11 epochs in the Ks filter. The data extend over a total time baseline of about 17 months. We found an overall median proper motion of the stars within 47 Tuc of (μαcos(δ), μδ) = (+5.89 ± 0.02 (statistical) ± 0.13 (systematic), -2.14 ± 0.02 (statistical) ± 0.08 (systematic)) mas yr-1, based on the measurements of 35 000 individual sources between 5' and 42' from the cluster center. We compared our result to the proper motions from the newest US Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC5), which includes data from the Gaia data release 1. Selecting cluster members ( 2700 stars), we found a median proper motion of (μαcos(δ), μδ) = (+5.30 ± 0.03 (statistical) ± 0.70 (systematic), -2.70 ± 0.03 (statistical) ± 0.70 (systematic)) mas yr-1. Comparing the results with measurements in the literature, we found that the values derived from the VMC data are consistent with the UCAC5 result, and are close to measurements obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope. We combined our proper motion results with radial velocity measurements from the literature and reconstructed the orbit of 47 Tuc, finding that the cluster is on an orbit with a low ellipticity and is confined within the inner 7.5 kpc of the Galaxy. We show that the use of an increased time baseline in combination with PSF-determined stellar centroids in crowded regions significantly improves the accuracy of the method. In future works, we will apply the methods described here to more VMC tiles to study in detail the kinematics of the Magellanic Clouds. Based on observations made with VISTA at the Paranal Observatory under program ID 179.B-2003.

  12. New Common Proper-Motion Pairs with R.A. Between 00h and 01h

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Caballero, Rafael

    2015-07-01

    This paper presents 37 new common proper-motion pairs. The new pairs have been obtained employing a semi-automatic procedure based on the inspection of images using the tool Aladin, completed with information obtained from the catalogs available at VizieR. All the pairs fulfill the Halbwachs criteria, employed to increase the probability of a physical bond between the two components.

  13. The upper spatial limit for perception of displacement is affected by preceding motion.

    PubMed

    Stefanova, Miroslava; Mateeff, Stefan; Hohnsbein, Joachim

    2009-03-01

    The upper spatial limit D(max) for perception of apparent motion of a random dot pattern may be strongly affected by another, collinear, motion that precedes it [Mateeff, S., Stefanova, M., &. Hohnsbein, J. (2007). Perceived global direction of a compound of real and apparent motion. Vision Research, 47, 1455-1463]. In the present study this phenomenon was studied with two-dimensional motion stimuli. A random dot pattern moved alternately in the vertical and oblique direction (zig-zag motion). The vertical motion was of 1.04 degrees length; it was produced by three discrete spatial steps of the dots. Thereafter the dots were displaced by a single spatial step in oblique direction. Each motion lasted for 57ms. The upper spatial limit for perception of the oblique motion was measured under two conditions: the vertical component of the oblique motion and the vertical motion were either in the same or in opposite directions. It was found that the perception of the oblique motion was strongly influenced by the relative direction of the vertical motion that preceded it; in the "same" condition the upper spatial limit was much shorter than in the "opposite" condition. Decreasing the speed of the vertical motion reversed this effect. Interpretations based on networks of motion detectors and on Gestalt theory are discussed.

  14. Chemically Dissected Rotation Curves of the Galactic Bulge from Main-sequence Proper Motions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Clarkson, William I.; Calamida, Annalisa; Sahu, Kailash C.; Brown, Thomas M.; Gennaro, Mario; Avila, Roberto J.; Valenti, Jeff; Debattista, Victor P.; Rich, R. Michael; Minniti, Dante; Zoccali, Manuela; Aufdemberge, Emily R.

    2018-05-01

    We report results from an exploratory study implementing a new probe of Galactic evolution using archival Hubble Space Telescope imaging observations. Precise proper motions are combined with photometric relative metallicity and temperature indices, to produce the proper-motion rotation curves of the Galactic bulge separately for metal-poor and metal-rich main-sequence samples. This provides a “pencil-beam” complement to large-scale wide-field surveys, which to date have focused on the more traditional bright giant branch tracers. We find strong evidence that the Galactic bulge rotation curves drawn from “metal-rich” and “metal-poor” samples are indeed discrepant. The “metal-rich” sample shows greater rotation amplitude and a steeper gradient against line-of-sight distance, as well as possibly a stronger central concentration along the line of sight. This may represent a new detection of differing orbital anisotropy between metal-rich and metal-poor bulge objects. We also investigate selection effects that would be implied for the longitudinal proper-motion cut often used to isolate a “pure-bulge” sample. Extensive investigation of synthetic stellar populations suggests that instrumental and observational artifacts are unlikely to account for the observed rotation curve differences. Thus, proper-motion-based rotation curves can be used to probe chemodynamical correlations for main-sequence tracer stars, which are orders of magnitude more numerous in the Galactic bulge than the bright giant branch tracers. We discuss briefly the prospect of using this new tool to constrain detailed models of Galactic formation and evolution. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

  15. X-ray Proper Motions and Shock Speeds along the Northwest Rim of SN1006

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Katsuda, Satoru; Long, Knox S.; Petre, Robert; Reynolds, Stephen P.; Williams, Brian J.; Winkler, P. Frank

    2012-01-01

    We report the results of an X-ray proper motion measurement for the NW rim of SN 1006, carried out by comparing Chandra observations from 2001 and 2012. The NW limb has predominantly thermal X-ray emission, and it is the only location in SN 1006 with signi cant optical emission: a thin, Balmer-dominated lament. For most of the NW rim, the proper motion is approximately equal to 0.30"yr(exp -1), essentially the same as has been measured from the H alpha lament. Isolated regions of the NW limb are dominated by nonthermal emission, and here the proper motion is much higher, 0:49"yr(exp -1), close to the value measured in X-rays along the much brighter NE limb, where the X-rays are overwhelmingly nonthermal. At the 2.2 kpc distance to SN 1006, the proper motions imply shock velocities of approximately 3000 kms(exp -1) and approximately 5000 kms(exp -1) in the thermal and nonthermal regions, respectively. A lower velocity behind the H alpha filament is consistent with the picture that SN 1006 is encountering denser gas in the NW, as is also suggested by its overall morphology. In the thermally-dominated portion of the X-ray shell, we also see an o set in the radial profiles at different energies; the 0.5-0.6 keV peak dominated by O VII is closer to the shock front than that of the 0.8-3 keV emission|due to the longer times for heavier elements to reach ionization states where they produce strong X-ray emission.

  16. Apparent diffusive motion of centrin foci in living cells: implications for diffusion-based motion in centriole duplication

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rafelski, Susanne M.; Keller, Lani C.; Alberts, Jonathan B.; Marshall, Wallace F.

    2011-04-01

    The degree to which diffusion contributes to positioning cellular structures is an open question. Here we investigate the question of whether diffusive motion of centrin granules would allow them to interact with the mother centriole. The role of centrin granules in centriole duplication remains unclear, but some proposed functions of these granules, for example, in providing pre-assembled centriole subunits, or by acting as unstable 'pre-centrioles' that need to be captured by the mother centriole (La Terra et al 2005 J. Cell Biol. 168 713-22), require the centrin foci to reach the mother. To test whether diffusive motion could permit such interactions in the necessary time scale, we measured the motion of centrin-containing foci in living human U2OS cells. We found that these centrin foci display apparently diffusive undirected motion. Using the apparent diffusion constant obtained from these measurements, we calculated the time scale required for diffusion to capture by the mother centrioles and found that it would greatly exceed the time available in the cell cycle. We conclude that mechanisms invoking centrin foci capture by the mother, whether as a pre-centriole or as a source of components to support later assembly, would require a form of directed motility of centrin foci that has not yet been observed.

  17. SU-E-J-252: A Motion Algorithm to Extract Physical and Motion Parameters of a Mobile Target in Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Imaging Retrospective to Image Reconstruction

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ali, I; Ahmad, S; Alsbou, N

    Purpose: A motion algorithm was developed to extract actual length, CT-numbers and motion amplitude of a mobile target imaged with cone-beam-CT (CBCT) retrospective to image-reconstruction. Methods: The motion model considered a mobile target moving with a sinusoidal motion and employed three measurable parameters: apparent length, CT number level and gradient of a mobile target obtained from CBCT images to extract information about the actual length and CT number value of the stationary target and motion amplitude. The algorithm was verified experimentally with a mobile phantom setup that has three targets with different sizes manufactured from homogenous tissue-equivalent gel material embeddedmore » into a thorax phantom. The phantom moved sinusoidal in one-direction using eight amplitudes (0–20mm) and a frequency of 15-cycles-per-minute. The model required imaging parameters such as slice thickness, imaging time. Results: This motion algorithm extracted three unknown parameters: length of the target, CT-number-level, motion amplitude for a mobile target retrospective to CBCT image reconstruction. The algorithm relates three unknown parameters to measurable apparent length, CT-number-level and gradient for well-defined mobile targets obtained from CBCT images. The motion model agreed with measured apparent lengths which were dependent on actual length of the target and motion amplitude. The cumulative CT-number for a mobile target was dependent on CT-number-level of the stationary target and motion amplitude. The gradient of the CT-distribution of mobile target is dependent on the stationary CT-number-level, actual target length along the direction of motion, and motion amplitude. Motion frequency and phase did not affect the elongation and CT-number distributions of mobile targets when imaging time included several motion cycles. Conclusion: The motion algorithm developed in this study has potential applications in diagnostic CT imaging and radiotherapy to extract actual length, size and CT-numbers distorted by motion in CBCT imaging. The model provides further information about motion of the target.« less

  18. Local systematic differences in 2MASS positions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bustos Fierro, I. H.; Calderón, J. H.

    2018-01-01

    We have found that positions in the 2MASS All-sky Catalog of Point Sources show local systematic differences with characteristic length-scales of ˜ 5 to ˜ 8 arcminutes when compared with several catalogs. We have observed that when 2MASS positions are used in the computation of proper motions, the mentioned systematic differences cause systematic errors in the resulting proper motions. We have developed a method to locally rectify 2MASS with respect to UCAC4 in order to diminish the systematic differences between these catalogs. The rectified 2MASS catalog with the proposed method can be regarded as an extension of UCAC4 for astrometry with accuracy ˜ 90 mas in its positions, with negligible systematic errors. Also we show that the use of these rectified positions removes the observed systematic pattern in proper motions derived from original 2MASS positions.

  19. Interactions between motion and form processing in the human visual system.

    PubMed

    Mather, George; Pavan, Andrea; Bellacosa Marotti, Rosilari; Campana, Gianluca; Casco, Clara

    2013-01-01

    The predominant view of motion and form processing in the human visual system assumes that these two attributes are handled by separate and independent modules. Motion processing involves filtering by direction-selective sensors, followed by integration to solve the aperture problem. Form processing involves filtering by orientation-selective and size-selective receptive fields, followed by integration to encode object shape. It has long been known that motion signals can influence form processing in the well-known Gestalt principle of common fate; texture elements which share a common motion property are grouped into a single contour or texture region. However, recent research in psychophysics and neuroscience indicates that the influence of form signals on motion processing is more extensive than previously thought. First, the salience and apparent direction of moving lines depends on how the local orientation and direction of motion combine to match the receptive field properties of motion-selective neurons. Second, orientation signals generated by "motion-streaks" influence motion processing; motion sensitivity, apparent direction and adaptation are affected by simultaneously present orientation signals. Third, form signals generated by human body shape influence biological motion processing, as revealed by studies using point-light motion stimuli. Thus, form-motion integration seems to occur at several different levels of cortical processing, from V1 to STS.

  20. Interactions between motion and form processing in the human visual system

    PubMed Central

    Mather, George; Pavan, Andrea; Bellacosa Marotti, Rosilari; Campana, Gianluca; Casco, Clara

    2013-01-01

    The predominant view of motion and form processing in the human visual system assumes that these two attributes are handled by separate and independent modules. Motion processing involves filtering by direction-selective sensors, followed by integration to solve the aperture problem. Form processing involves filtering by orientation-selective and size-selective receptive fields, followed by integration to encode object shape. It has long been known that motion signals can influence form processing in the well-known Gestalt principle of common fate; texture elements which share a common motion property are grouped into a single contour or texture region. However, recent research in psychophysics and neuroscience indicates that the influence of form signals on motion processing is more extensive than previously thought. First, the salience and apparent direction of moving lines depends on how the local orientation and direction of motion combine to match the receptive field properties of motion-selective neurons. Second, orientation signals generated by “motion-streaks” influence motion processing; motion sensitivity, apparent direction and adaptation are affected by simultaneously present orientation signals. Third, form signals generated by human body shape influence biological motion processing, as revealed by studies using point-light motion stimuli. Thus, form-motion integration seems to occur at several different levels of cortical processing, from V1 to STS. PMID:23730286

  1. Parallaxes and Proper Motions From the MCCormick Observatory: List 47

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ianna, Philip A.; Patterson, Richard J.; Swain, Melanie A.

    1996-01-01

    Trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions are presented for 32 late-type stars observed photographically with the Leander McCormick 67 cm refractor. Eighteen of the stars have no previously published parallaxes. Twenty one of the stars are K and M dwarfs identified by Vyssotsky and his collaborators. The list includes several x-ray luminous M dwarfs, a rapidly rotating spotted flare star, and two astrometric binaries.

  2. The SUPERBLINK catalog of stars with large proper motions, with enhancements from the first GAIA release.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lepine, Sebastien

    2018-01-01

    The SUPERBLINK survey of stars with proper motion larger than 40 mas/yr is now complete for the entire sky down to magnitude V=20. The SUPERBLINK catalog provides astrometric and photometric data for a little over 2.7 million individual stars, and identifies their counterparts in a variety of large catalogs including ROSAT in the X-ray, GALEX in the ultraviolet, GAIA and SDSS in the optical, and 2MASS and WISE in the infrared. The addition of GAIA data notably yields proper motions to an accuracy of ~2mas/yr for 94% of the entries. Parallaxes with accuracies better than 10% are also now available for about 155,000 of these stars. Besides from identifying local populations of low-mass stars and white dwarfs, the catalog nows begins to map out with some detail the distribution in velocity space of various local stellar populations, including young M dwarfs and old metal-poor M subdwarfs. The catalog also allows one to search for common proper motion pairs, and other kinematic groups like nearby cluster members, moving group members, and local streams. This demonstrates the potential for nearby star research as more complete data becomes available from the GAIA mission.

  3. UCAC1: New Proper Motions for 27 Million Stars on the Southern Hemisphere

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zacharias, N.; Monet, S. Urban D. G.; Platais, I.; Wycoff, G. L.; Zacharias, M. I.; Rafferty, T. J.

    The big impact of UCAC on galactic kinematics and dynamics studies will be outlined. The USNO CCD Astrograph (UCA) started an astrometric sky survey in February 1998 at Cerro Tololo, Chile. By January 2000 about 90% of the Southern Hemisphere has been observed and full sky coverage is expected by early 2003. In addition, calibration fields around extragalactic reference frame sources and selected open clusters are observed frequently. The UCAC project is a huge dedicated astrometric survey similar to the AGK2 and AGK3 projects but vastly exceeding those with respect to higher accuracy, limiting magnitude (16th) and full sky coverage. A first catalog (UCAC1) is being published in early 2000 for 27 million stars. Stars in the range of 9 to 14th magnitude have a positional precision of 20 mas. The UCAC1 will utilize positions from the USNO A2.0 catalog for determining proper motions, which are expected to be about 8 mas/yr for this initial release. Higher precision proper motions, expected to be in the 3 to 4 mas/yr range, will be derived utilizing a variety of early epoch data, including re-measuring of the Southern Proper Motion (SPM) survey first epoch plates.

  4. Chemically-dissected Rotation Curves of the Galactic Bulge from Hubble Space Telescope Proper Motions on the Main Sequence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Clarkson, William I.; Calamida, Annalisa; Sahu, Kailash C.; Gennaro, Mario; Brown, Thomas M.; Avila, Roberto J.; Rich, R. Michael; Debattista, Victor P.

    2018-01-01

    We report results from a pilot study using archival Hubble Space Telescope imaging observations in seven filters over a multi-year time-baseline to probe the co-dependence of chemical abundance and kinematics, using proper motion-based rotation curves selected on relative metallicity. With spectroscopic studies suggesting the metallicity distribution of the Bulge may be bimodal, we follow a data-driven approach to classify stars as belonging to metal-rich or metal-poor ends of the observed relative photometric metallicity distribution, with classification implemented using standard unsupervised learning techniques. We detect clear differences in both slope and amplitude of the proper motion-based rotation curve as traced by the more “metal-rich” and “metal-poor” samples. The sense of the discrepancy is qualitatively in agreement both with recent observational and theoretical indications; the “metal-poor” sample does indeed show a weaker rotation signature.This is the first study to dissect the proper motion rotation curve of the Bulge by chemical abundance using main-sequence targets, which are orders of magnitude more common on the sky than bright giants. These techniques thus offer a pencil-beam complement to wide-field studies that use more traditional tracer populations.

  5. A radial velocity survey of the open cluster IC 4665

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Prosser, Charles F.; Giampapa, Mark S.

    1994-01-01

    A radial velocity survey of the open cluster IC 4665 is reported for a group of candidate members previously identified on the basis of proper motion and photometry. Of those candidates observed, 20 out of 42 have radial velocities consistent with membership; these cluster members populate the F5-K0 dwarf region and represent the first relatively conclusive membership determinations for such solar-type stars in IC 4665. Three new spectroscopic binary members of the cluster have been identified. Rotational velocities have also been derived; the v sin i distribution among IC 4665 members reveals that most apparent G dwarf members of IC 4665 are seen to exhibit substantial rotation (v sin i greater than 10 km/s). When compared to evolutionary isochrones, the current list of intermediate-mass members appears to support earlier suggestions that IC 4665 has an age comparable to the Pleiades.

  6. A possible brown dwarf companion to Gliese 569

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Forrest, W. J.; Shure, Mark; Skrutskie, M. F.

    1988-01-01

    A faint cool companion to Gliese 569, discovered during an IR imaging survey of nearby stars, may be the lowest-mass stellar object yet found. The companion is somewhat cooler in its 1.65-3.75-micron energy distribution than the coolest known main-sequence stars, indicating a low mass. Despite its lower temperature, it is more luminous than similar extremely low-mass stars, suggesting that it is either a young low-mass star evolving toward the main sequence or a cooling substellar brown dwarf. The primary star has emission lines and a low space velocity and exhibits flaring, all of which imply youth for this system. Observations of Gliese 569 and its companion over a period of 2 yr confirm the common proper motion expected of a true binary. The 5-arcsec apparent separation (50 AU) implies an orbital period of roughly 500 yr, which will permit an eventual direct determination of the mass of the companion.

  7. Determination of constant-volume balloon capabilities for aeronautical research. [specifically measurement of atmospheric phenomena

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tatom, F. B.; King, R. L.

    1977-01-01

    The proper application of constant-volume balloons (CVB) for measurement of atmospheric phenomena was determined. And with the proper interpretation of the resulting data. A literature survey covering 176 references is included. the governing equations describing the three-dimensional motion of a CVB immersed in a flow field are developed. The flowfield model is periodic, three-dimensional, and nonhomogeneous, with mean translational motion. The balloon motion and flow field equations are cast into dimensionless form for greater generality, and certain significant dimensionless groups are identified. An alternate treatment of the balloon motion, based on first-order perturbation analysis, is also presented. A description of the digital computer program, BALLOON, used for numerically integrating the governing equations is provided.

  8. Numerical study on the stick-slip motion of contact line moving on heterogeneous surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Ming; Chen, Xiao-Peng

    2017-08-01

    We present a numerical study of a moving contact line (CL) crossing the intersecting region of hydrophilic and hydrophobic patterns on a solid wall using lattice Boltzmann methods (LBMs). To capture the interface between the two phases properly, we applied a phase field model coupled with the LBM. The evolutions of the CL velocity, dynamic contact angle, and apparent contact angle are analyzed for the so-called "stick" and "slip" processes. In the two processes, the evolution of the quantities follows different rules shortly after the initial quick transition, which is probably caused by finite interfacial thickness or non-equilibrium effects. For the stick process, the CL is almost fixed and energy is extracted from the main flow to rebuild the meniscus' profile. The evolution of the meniscus is mainly governed by mass conservation. The CL is depinned after the apparent contact angle surpasses the dynamic one, which implies that the interfacial segment in the vicinity of contact line is bended. For the slip process, the quantities evolve with features of relaxation. In the microscopic scale, the velocity of the CL depends on the balance between unbalanced Young's capillary force and viscous drag. To predict the apparent contact angle evolution, a model following the dynamics of an overdamped spring-mass system is proposed. Our results also show that the capillary flows in a channel with heterogeneous wall can be described generally with the Poiseuille flow superimposed by the above transient one.

  9. Star Formation Under the Outflow: The Discovery of a Non-thermal Jet from OMC-2 FIR 3 and Its Relationship to the Deeply Embedded FIR 4 Protostar

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Osorio, Mayra; Díaz-Rodríguez, Ana K.; Anglada, Guillem

    We carried out multiwavelength (0.7–5 cm), multi-epoch (1994–2015) Very Large Array (VLA) observations toward the region enclosing the bright far-IR sources FIR 3 (HOPS 370) and FIR 4 (HOPS 108) in OMC-2. We report the detection of 10 radio sources, 7 of them identified as young stellar objects. We image a well-collimated radio jet with a thermal free–free core (VLA 11) associated with the Class I intermediate-mass protostar HOPS 370. The jet features several knots (VLA 12N, 12C, 12S) of non-thermal radio emission (likely synchrotron from shock-accelerated relativistic electrons) at distances of ∼7500–12,500 au from the protostar, in a regionmore » where other shock tracers have been previously identified. These knots are moving away from the HOPS 370 protostar at ∼100 km s{sup −1}. The Class 0 protostar HOPS 108, which itself is detected as an independent, kinematically decoupled radio source, falls in the path of these non-thermal radio knots. These results favor the previously proposed scenario in which the formation of HOPS 108 is triggered by the impact of the HOPS 370 outflow with a dense clump. However, HOPS 108 has a large proper motion velocity of ∼30 km s{sup −1}, similar to that of other runaway stars in Orion, whose origin would be puzzling within this scenario. Alternatively, an apparent proper motion could result because of changes in the position of the centroid of the source due to blending with nearby extended emission, variations in the source shape, and/or opacity effects.« less

  10. Mars Tumbleweed Simulation Using Singular Perturbation Theory

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Raiszadeh, Behzad; Calhoun, Phillip

    2005-01-01

    The Mars Tumbleweed is a new surface rover concept that utilizes Martian winds as the primary source of mobility. Several designs have been proposed for the Mars Tumbleweed, all using aerodynamic drag to generate force for traveling about the surface. The Mars Tumbleweed, in its deployed configuration, must be large and lightweight to provide the ratio of drag force to rolling resistance necessary to initiate motion from the Martian surface. This paper discusses the dynamic simulation details of a candidate Tumbleweed design. The dynamic simulation model must properly evaluate and characterize the motion of the tumbleweed rover to support proper selection of system design parameters. Several factors, such as model flexibility, simulation run times, and model accuracy needed to be considered in modeling assumptions. The simulation was required to address the flexibility of the rover and its interaction with the ground, and properly evaluate its mobility. Proper assumptions needed to be made such that the simulated dynamic motion is accurate and realistic while not overly burdened by long simulation run times. This paper also shows results that provided reasonable correlation between the simulation and a drop/roll test of a tumbleweed prototype.

  11. The PMA Catalogue as a realization of the extragalactic reference system in optical and near infrared wavelengths

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akhmetov, Volodymyr S.; Fedorov, Peter N.; Velichko, Anna B.

    2018-04-01

    We combined the data from the Gaia DR1 and Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) catalogues in order to derive the absolute proper motions more than 420 million stars distributed all over the sky in the stellar magnitude range 8 mag < G < 21 mag (Gaia magnitude). To eliminate the systematic zonal errors in position of 2MASS catalogue objects, the 2-dimensional median filter was used. The PMA system of proper motion has been obtained by direct link to 1.6 millions extragalactic sources. The short analysis of the absolute proper motion of the PMA stars Catalogue is presented in this work. From a comparison of this data with same stars from the TGAS, UCAC4 and PPMXL catalogues, the equatorial components of the mutual rotation vector of these coordinate systems are determined.

  12. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gould, Andrew; Yee, Jennifer C., E-mail: gould@astronomy.ohio-state.edu, E-mail: jyee@astronomy.ohio-state.edu

    While of order of a million asteroids have been discovered, the number in rigorously controlled samples that have precise orbits and rotation periods, as well as well-measured colors, is relatively small. In particular, less than a dozen main-belt asteroids with estimated diameters D < 3 km have excellent rotation periods. We show how existing and soon-to-be-acquired microlensing data can yield a large asteroid sample with precise orbits and rotation periods, which will include roughly 6% of all asteroids with maximum brightness I < 18.1 and lying within 10 Degree-Sign of the ecliptic. This sample will be dominated by small andmore » very small asteroids, down to D {approx} 1 km. We also show how asteroid astrometry could turn current narrow-angle OGLE proper motions of bulge stars into wide-angle proper motions. This would enable one to measure the proper-motion gradient across the Galactic bar.« less

  13. SU-E-J-150: Four-Dimensional Cone-Beam CT Algorithm by Extraction of Physical and Motion Parameter of Mobile Targets Retrospective to Image Reconstruction with Motion Modeling

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ali, I; Ahmad, S; Alsbou, N

    Purpose: To develop 4D-cone-beam CT (CBCT) algorithm by motion modeling that extracts actual length, CT numbers level and motion amplitude of a mobile target retrospective to image reconstruction by motion modeling. Methods: The algorithm used three measurable parameters: apparent length and blurred CT number distribution of a mobile target obtained from CBCT images to determine actual length, CT-number value of the stationary target, and motion amplitude. The predictions of this algorithm were tested with mobile targets that with different well-known sizes made from tissue-equivalent gel which was inserted into a thorax phantom. The phantom moved sinusoidally in one-direction to simulatemore » respiratory motion using eight amplitudes ranging 0–20mm. Results: Using this 4D-CBCT algorithm, three unknown parameters were extracted that include: length of the target, CT number level, speed or motion amplitude for the mobile targets retrospective to image reconstruction. The motion algorithms solved for the three unknown parameters using measurable apparent length, CT number level and gradient for a well-defined mobile target obtained from CBCT images. The motion model agreed with measured apparent lengths which were dependent on the actual target length and motion amplitude. The gradient of the CT number distribution of the mobile target is dependent on the stationary CT number level, actual target length and motion amplitude. Motion frequency and phase did not affect the elongation and CT number distribution of the mobile target and could not be determined. Conclusion: A 4D-CBCT motion algorithm was developed to extract three parameters that include actual length, CT number level and motion amplitude or speed of mobile targets directly from reconstructed CBCT images without prior knowledge of the stationary target parameters. This algorithm provides alternative to 4D-CBCT without requirement to motion tracking and sorting of the images into different breathing phases which has potential applications in diagnostic CT imaging and radiotherapy.« less

  14. Apparent motion determined by surface layout not by disparity or three-dimensional distance.

    PubMed

    He, Z J; Nakayama, K

    1994-01-13

    The most meaningful events ecologically, including the motion of objects, occur in relation to or on surfaces. We run along the ground, cars travel on roads, balls roll across lawns, and so on. Even though there are other motions, such as flying of birds, it is likely that motion along surfaces is more frequent and more significant biologically. To examine whether events occurring in relation to surfaces have a preferred status in terms of visual representation, we asked whether the phenomenon of apparent motion would show a preference for motion attached to surfaces. We used a competitive three-dimensional motion paradigm and found that there is a preference to see motion between tokens placed within the same disparity as opposed to different planes. Supporting our surface-layout hypothesis, the effect of disparity was eliminated either by slanting the tokens so that they were all seen within the same surface plane or by inserting a single slanted background surface upon which the tokens could rest. Additionally, a highly curved stereoscopic surface led to the perception of a more circuitous motion path defined by that surface, instead of the shortest path in three-dimensional space.

  15. Diagnostics of vector magnetic fields

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stenflo, J. O.

    1985-01-01

    It is shown that the vector magnetic fields derived from observations with a filter magnetograph will be severely distorted if the spatially unresolved magnetic structure is not properly accounted for. Thus the apparent vector field will appear much more horizontal than it really is, but this distortion is strongly dependent on the area factor and the temperature line weakenings. As the available fluxtube models are not sufficiently well determined, it is not possible to correct the filter magnetograph observations for these effects in a reliable way, although a crude correction is of course much better than no correction at all. The solution to this diagnostic problem is to observe simultaneously in suitable combinations of spectral lines, and/or use Stokes line profiles recorded with very high spectral resolution. The diagnostic power of using a Fourier transform spectrometer for polarimetry is shown and some results from I and V spectra are illustrated. The line asymmetries caused by mass motions inside the fluxtubes adds an extra complication to the diagnostic problem, in particular as there are indications that the motions are nonstationary in nature. The temperature structure appears to be a function of fluxtube diameter, as a clear difference between plage and network fluxtubes was revealed. The divergence of the magnetic field with height plays an essential role in the explanation of the Stokes V asymmetries (in combination with the mass motions). A self consistent treatment of the subarcsec field geometry may be required to allow an accurate derivation of the spatially averaged vector magnetic field from spectrally resolved data.

  16. Sunspots and Their Simple Harmonic Motion

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ribeiro, C. I.

    2013-01-01

    In this paper an example of a simple harmonic motion, the apparent motion of sunspots due to the Sun's rotation, is described, which can be used to teach this subject to high-school students. Using real images of the Sun, students can calculate the star's rotation period with the simple harmonic motion mathematical expression.

  17. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pearl, Alan N.; Newberg, Heidi Jo; Smith, R. Fiona

    We confirm, quantify, and provide a table of the coherent velocity substructure of the Milky Way disk within 2 kpc of the Sun toward the Galactic anticenter, with a 0.2 kpc resolution. We use the radial velocities of ∼340,000 F-type stars obtained with the Guoshoujing Telescope (also known as the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, LAMOST), and proper motions derived from the PPMXL catalog. The PPMXL proper motions have been corrected to remove systematic errors by subtracting the average proper motions of galaxies and QSOs that have been confirmed in the LAMOST spectroscopic survey, and that are withinmore » 2.°5 of the star’s position. We provide the resulting table of systematic offsets derived from the PPMXL proper motion measurements of extragalactic objects identified in the LAMOST spectroscopic survey. Using the corrected phase-space stellar sample, we find statistically significant deviations in the bulk disk velocity of 20 km s{sup −1} or more in the three-dimensional velocities of Galactic disk stars. The bulk velocity varies significantly over length scales of half a kiloparsec or less. The rotation velocity of the disk increases by 20 km s{sup −1} from the Sun’s position to 1.5 kpc outside the solar circle. Disk stars in the second quadrant, within 1 kpc of the Sun, are moving radially toward the Galactic center and vertically toward a point a few tenths of a kiloparsec above the Galactic plane; looking down on the disk, the stars appear to move in a circular streaming motion with a radius of the order of 1 kpc.« less

  18. Is the Milky Way still breathing? RAVE-Gaia streaming motions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carrillo, I.; Minchev, I.; Kordopatis, G.; Steinmetz, M.; Binney, J.; Anders, F.; Bienaymé, O.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.; Famaey, B.; Freeman, K. C.; Gilmore, G.; Gibson, B. K.; Grebel, E. K.; Helmi, A.; Just, A.; Kunder, A.; McMillan, P.; Monari, G.; Munari, U.; Navarro, J.; Parker, Q. A.; Reid, W.; Seabroke, G.; Sharma, S.; Siebert, A.; Watson, F.; Wojno, J.; Wyse, R. F. G.; Zwitter, T.

    2018-04-01

    We use data from the Radial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) and the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (TGAS) catalogue to compute the velocity fields yielded by the radial (VR), azimuthal (Vϕ),and vertical (Vz) components of associated Galactocentric velocity. We search in particular for variation in all three velocity components with distance above and below the disc mid-plane, as well as how each component of Vz (line-of-sight and tangential velocity projections) modifies the obtained vertical structure. To study the dependence of velocity on proper motion and distance, we use two main samples: a RAVE sample including proper motions from the Tycho-2, PPMXL, and UCAC4 catalogues, and a RAVE-TGAS sample with inferred distances and proper motions from the TGAS and UCAC5 catalogues. In both samples, we identify asymmetries in VR and Vz. Below the plane, we find the largest radial gradient to be ∂VR/∂R = -7.01 ± 0.61 km s-1 kpc-1, in agreement with recent studies. Above the plane, we find a similar gradient with ∂VR/∂R = -9.42 ± 1.77 km s-1 kpc-1. By comparing our results with previous studies, we find that the structure in Vz is strongly dependent on the adopted proper motions. Using the Galaxia Milky Way model, we demonstrate that distance uncertainties can create artificial wave-like patterns. In contrast to previous suggestions of a breathing mode seen in RAVE data, our results support a combination of bending and breathing modes, likely generated by a combination of external or internal and external mechanisms.

  19. Using ground based data as a precursor for Gaia in getting proper motions of satellites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fritz, Tobias K.; Linden, Sean T.; Zivick, Paul; Kallivayalil, Nitya; Bovy, Jo

    2018-04-01

    We present our effort to measure the proper motions of satellites in the halo of the Milky Way with mainly ground based telescopes as a precursor on what is possible with Gaia. For our first study, we used wide field optical data from the LBT combined with a first epoch of SDSS observations, on the globular cluster Palomar 5 (Pal 5). Since Pal 5 is associated with a tidal stream it is very useful to constrain the shape of the potential of the Milky Way. The motion and other properties of the Pal 5 system constrain the inner halo of the Milky Way to be rather spherical. Further, we combined adaptive optics and HST to get an absolute proper motion of the globular cluster Pyxis. Using the proper motion and the line-of-sight velocity we find that the orbit of Pyxis is rather eccentric with its apocenter at more than 100 kpc and its pericenter at about 30 kpc. The dynamics excludes an association with the ATLAS stream, the Magellanic clouds, and all satellites of the Milky Way at least down to the mass of Leo II. However, the properties of Pyxis, like metallicity and age, point to an origin from a dwarf of at least the mass of Leo II. We therefore propose that Pyxis originated from an unknown relatively massive dwarf galaxy, which is likely today fully disrupted. Assuming that Pyxis is bound to the Milky Way we derive a 68% lower limit on the mass of the Milky Way of 9.5 × 1011 M⊙.

  20. Reaching the boundary between stellar kinematic groups and very wide binaries. III. Sixteen new stars and eight new wide systems in the β Pictoris moving group

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alonso-Floriano, F. J.; Caballero, J. A.; Cortés-Contreras, M.; Solano, E.; Montes, D.

    2015-11-01

    Aims: We look for common proper motion companions to stars of the nearby young β Pictoris moving group. Methods: First, we compiled a list of 185 β Pictoris members and candidate members from 35 representative works. Next, we used the Aladin and STILTS virtual observatory tools and the PPMXL proper motion and Washington Double Star catalogues to look for companion candidates. The resulting potential companions were subjects of a dedicated astro-photometric follow-up using public data from all-sky surveys. After discarding 67 sources by proper motion and 31 by colour-magnitude diagrams, we obtained a final list of 36 common proper motion systems. The binding energy of two of them is perhaps too small to be considered physically bound. Results: Of the 36 pairs and multiple systems, eight are new, 16 have only one stellar component previously classified as a β Pictoris member, and three have secondaries at or below the hydrogen-burning limit. Sixteen stars are reported here for the first time as moving group members. The unexpected large number of high-order multiple systems, 12 triples and two quadruples among 36 systems, may suggest a biased list of members towards close binaries or an increment of the high-order-multiple fraction for very wide systems.

  1. VizieR Online Data Catalog: The VLBA Extragalactic Proper Motion Catalog (Truebenbach+, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Truebenbach, A. E.; Darling, J.

    2017-11-01

    We created our catalog of extragalactic radio proper motions using the 2017a Goddard VLBI global solution. The 2017a solution is computed from more than 30 years of dual-band VLBI observations --1979 August 3 to 2017 March 27. We also observed 28 objects with either no redshift or a "questionable" Optical Characteristic of Astrometric Radio Sources (OCARS; Malkin 2016ARep...60..996M) redshift at the Apache Point Observatory (APO) 3.5m telescope and/or at Gemini North. We conducted observations on the 3.5m telescope at Apache Point Observatory with the Dual Imaging Spectrograph (DIS) from 2015 April 18 to 2016 June 30. We chose two objects for additional observations with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph-North (GMOS-N) at Gemini North Observatory. 2021+317 was observed on 2016 June 26 and 28, while 0420+417 was observed on 2016 November 8 and 26. We also observed 42 radio sources with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in the X-band (3.6cm/8.3GHz). Our targets had all been previously observed by VLBI. Our VLBA observations were conducted in two campaigns from 2015 September to 2016 January and 2016 October to November. The final extragalactic proper motion catalog (created primarily from archival Goddard VLBI data, with redshifts obtained from OCARS) contains 713 proper motions with average uncertainties of 24μas/yr. (5 data files).

  2. How visual illusions illuminate complementary brain processes: illusory depth from brightness and apparent motion of illusory contours

    PubMed Central

    Grossberg, Stephen

    2014-01-01

    Neural models of perception clarify how visual illusions arise from adaptive neural processes. Illusions also provide important insights into how adaptive neural processes work. This article focuses on two illusions that illustrate a fundamental property of global brain organization; namely, that advanced brains are organized into parallel cortical processing streams with computationally complementary properties. That is, in order to process certain combinations of properties, each cortical stream cannot process complementary properties. Interactions between these streams, across multiple processing stages, overcome their complementary deficiencies to compute effective representations of the world, and to thereby achieve the property of complementary consistency. The two illusions concern how illusory depth can vary with brightness, and how apparent motion of illusory contours can occur. Illusory depth from brightness arises from the complementary properties of boundary and surface processes, notably boundary completion and surface-filling in, within the parvocellular form processing cortical stream. This illusion depends upon how surface contour signals from the V2 thin stripes to the V2 interstripes ensure complementary consistency of a unified boundary/surface percept. Apparent motion of illusory contours arises from the complementary properties of form and motion processes across the parvocellular and magnocellular cortical processing streams. This illusion depends upon how illusory contours help to complete boundary representations for object recognition, how apparent motion signals can help to form continuous trajectories for target tracking and prediction, and how formotion interactions from V2-to-MT enable completed object representations to be continuously tracked even when they move behind intermittently occluding objects through time. PMID:25389399

  3. Apparent Polar Wander of the Pacific Plate Since the Cretaeous and Implications for True Polar Wander and for the Plate Motion Circuit Through Antarctica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gordon, R. G.; Woodworth, D.

    2017-12-01

    In this presentation we review prior work on Pacific plate apparent polar wander and its implications (1) for true polar wander since ≈125 Ma and (2) for testing the global plate motion circuit through Antarctica. We furthermore update prior analyses using our recently improved and expanded apparent polar wander path for the Pacific plate [Woodworth et al., this meeting]. Three episodes of rapid motion of Pacific hotspots relative to the spin axis have occurred in the past ≈125 Ma: a ≈15° shift near 85 Ma [Gordon, 1983; Sager and Koppers, 2000], an ≈8° shift near the age of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend [Petronotis et al., 1994; Woodworth et al., this meeting], and a 3°-°4 shift since 12 Ma [Woodworth et al., this meeting]. These shifts are in general agreement with the shifts of Indo-Atlantic hotspots relative to the spin axis. It has long been recognized that paleomagnetic poles from the continents, when rotated into the Pacific plate reference frame through plate motion circuits through Antarctica, are inconsistent with indigenous Pacific plate paleomagnetic poles and paleolatitudes [Suárez and Molnar, 1980; Gordon and Cox, 1980; Acton and Gordon, 1994]. We update such tests using our new and improved Pacific apparent polar wander path and show that the plate motion circuit through Antarctica still fails such paleomagnetic tests of consistency. Implications for global plate reconstructions and the hotspot reference frame will be discussed.

  4. SU-E-J-219: Quantitative Evaluation of Motion Effects On Accuracy of Image-Guided Radiotherapy with Fiducial Markers Using CT Imaging

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ali, I; Oyewale, S; Ahmad, S

    2014-06-01

    Purpose: To investigate quantitatively patient motion effects on the localization accuracy of image-guided radiation with fiducial markers using axial CT (ACT), helical CT (HCT) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) using modeling and experimental phantom studies. Methods: Markers with different lengths (2.5 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm, and 20 mm) were inserted in a mobile thorax phantom which was imaged using ACT, HCT and CBCT. The phantom moved with sinusoidal motion with amplitudes ranging 0–20 mm and a frequency of 15 cycles-per-minute. Three parameters that include: apparent marker lengths, center position and distance between the centers of the markers were measured inmore » the different CT images of the mobile phantom. A motion mathematical model was derived to predict the variations in the previous three parameters and their dependence on the motion in the different imaging modalities. Results: In CBCT, the measured marker lengths increased linearly with increase in motion amplitude. For example, the apparent length of the 10 mm marker was about 20 mm when phantom moved with amplitude of 5 mm. Although the markers have elongated, the center position and the distance between markers remained at the same position for different motion amplitudes in CBCT. These parameters were not affected by motion frequency and phase in CBCT. In HCT and ACT, the measured marker length, center and distance between markers varied irregularly with motion parameters. The apparent lengths of the markers varied with inverse of the phantom velocity which depends on motion frequency and phase. Similarly the center position and distance between markers varied inversely with phantom speed. Conclusion: Motion may lead to variations in maker length, center position and distance between markers using CT imaging. These effects should be considered in patient setup using image-guided radiation therapy based on fiducial markers matching using 2D-radiographs or volumetric CT imaging.« less

  5. Tuning self-motion perception in virtual reality with visual illusions.

    PubMed

    Bruder, Gerd; Steinicke, Frank; Wieland, Phil; Lappe, Markus

    2012-07-01

    Motion perception in immersive virtual environments significantly differs from the real world. For example, previous work has shown that users tend to underestimate travel distances in virtual environments (VEs). As a solution to this problem, researchers proposed to scale the mapped virtual camera motion relative to the tracked real-world movement of a user until real and virtual motion are perceived as equal, i.e., real-world movements could be mapped with a larger gain to the VE in order to compensate for the underestimation. However, introducing discrepancies between real and virtual motion can become a problem, in particular, due to misalignments of both worlds and distorted space cognition. In this paper, we describe a different approach that introduces apparent self-motion illusions by manipulating optic flow fields during movements in VEs. These manipulations can affect self-motion perception in VEs, but omit a quantitative discrepancy between real and virtual motions. In particular, we consider to which regions of the virtual view these apparent self-motion illusions can be applied, i.e., the ground plane or peripheral vision. Therefore, we introduce four illusions and show in experiments that optic flow manipulation can significantly affect users' self-motion judgments. Furthermore, we show that with such manipulations of optic flow fields the underestimation of travel distances can be compensated.

  6. THE THIRD US NAVAL OBSERVATORY CCD ASTROGRAPH CATALOG (UCAC3)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zacharias, N.; Finch, C.; Wycoff, G.

    2010-06-15

    The third US Naval Observatory (USNO) CCD Astrograph Catalog, UCAC3, was released at the IAU General Assembly on 2009 August 10. It is the first all-sky release in this series and contains just over 100 million objects, about 95 million of them with proper motions, covering about R = 8-16 mag. Current epoch positions are obtained from the observations with the 20 cm aperture USNO Astrograph's 'red lens', equipped with a 4k x 4k CCD. Proper motions are derived by combining these observations with over 140 ground- and space-based catalogs, including Hipparcos/Tycho and the AC2000.2, as well as unpublished measuresmore » of over 5000 plates from other astrographs. For most of the faint stars in the southern hemisphere, the Yale/San Juan first epoch plates from the Southern Proper Motion (SPM) program (YSJ1) form the basis for proper motions. These data are supplemented by all-sky Schmidt plate survey astrometry and photometry obtained from the SuperCOSMOS project, as well as 2MASS near-IR photometry. Major differences of UCAC3 data as compared with UCAC2 include a completely new raw data reduction with improved control over systematic errors in positions, significantly improved photometry, slightly deeper limiting magnitude, coverage of the north pole region, greater completeness by inclusion of double stars, and weak detections. This of course leads to a catalog which is not as 'clean' as UCAC2 and problem areas are outlined for the user in this paper. The positional accuracy of stars in UCAC3 is about 15-100 mas per coordinate, depending on magnitude, while the errors in proper motions range from 1 to 10 mas yr{sup -1} depending on magnitude and observing history, with a significant improvement over UCAC2 achieved due to the re-reduced SPM data and inclusion of more astrograph plate data unavailable at the time of UCAC2.« less

  7. Facial motion parameter estimation and error criteria in model-based image coding

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Yunhai; Yu, Lu; Yao, Qingdong

    2000-04-01

    Model-based image coding has been given extensive attention due to its high subject image quality and low bit-rates. But the estimation of object motion parameter is still a difficult problem, and there is not a proper error criteria for the quality assessment that are consistent with visual properties. This paper presents an algorithm of the facial motion parameter estimation based on feature point correspondence and gives the motion parameter error criteria. The facial motion model comprises of three parts. The first part is the global 3-D rigid motion of the head, the second part is non-rigid translation motion in jaw area, and the third part consists of local non-rigid expression motion in eyes and mouth areas. The feature points are automatically selected by a function of edges, brightness and end-node outside the blocks of eyes and mouth. The numbers of feature point are adjusted adaptively. The jaw translation motion is tracked by the changes of the feature point position of jaw. The areas of non-rigid expression motion can be rebuilt by using block-pasting method. The estimation approach of motion parameter error based on the quality of reconstructed image is suggested, and area error function and the error function of contour transition-turn rate are used to be quality criteria. The criteria reflect the image geometric distortion caused by the error of estimated motion parameters properly.

  8. Apparent motion perception in lower limb amputees with phantom sensations: "obstacle shunning" and "obstacle tolerance".

    PubMed

    Saetta, Gianluca; Grond, Ilva; Brugger, Peter; Lenggenhager, Bigna; Tsay, Anthony J; Giummarra, Melita J

    2018-03-21

    Phantom limbs are the phenomenal persistence of postural and sensorimotor features of an amputated limb. Although immaterial, their characteristics can be modulated by the presence of physical matter. For instance, the phantom may disappear when its phenomenal space is invaded by objects ("obstacle shunning"). Alternatively, "obstacle tolerance" occurs when the phantom is not limited by the law of impenetrability and co-exists with physical objects. Here we examined the link between this under-investigated aspect of phantom limbs and apparent motion perception. The illusion of apparent motion of human limbs involves the perception that a limb moves through or around an object, depending on the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) for the two images. Participants included 12 unilateral lower limb amputees matched for obstacle shunning (n = 6) and obstacle tolerance (n = 6) experiences, and 14 non-amputees. Using multilevel linear models, we replicated robust biases for short perceived trajectories for short SOA (moving through the object), and long trajectories (circumventing the object) for long SOAs in both groups. Importantly, however, amputees with obstacle shunning perceived leg stimuli to predominantly move through the object, whereas amputees with obstacle tolerance perceived leg stimuli to predominantly move around the object. That is, in people who experience obstacle shunning, apparent motion perception of lower limbs was not constrained to the laws of impenetrability (as the phantom disappears when invaded by objects), and legs can therefore move through physical objects. Amputees who experience obstacle tolerance, however, had stronger solidity constraints for lower limb apparent motion, perhaps because they must avoid co-location of the phantom with physical objects. Phantom limb experience does, therefore, appear to be modulated by intuitive physics, but not in the same way for everyone. This may have important implications for limb experience post-amputation (e.g., improving prosthesis embodiment when limb representation is constrained by the same limits as an intact limb). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. 12 CFR 1780.31 - Summary disposition.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... matter of law. (b) Filing of motions and responses. (1) Any party who believes there is no genuine issue... order granting a motion for summary disposition if the undisputed pleaded facts, admissions, affidavits... materials properly submitted in connection with a motion for summary disposition show that— (1) There is no...

  10. 12 CFR 908.51 - Summary disposition.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... matter of law. (b) Filing of motions and responses. (1) Any party who believes there is no genuine issue... order granting a motion for summary disposition if the undisputed pleaded facts, admissions, affidavits... materials properly submitted in connection with a motion for summary disposition show that— (1) There is no...

  11. The Distortion of a Body's Visible Shape at Relativistic Speeds

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Arkadiy, Leonov

    2009-01-01

    The problem of obtaining the apparent equation of motion and shape of a moving body from its arbitrary given equation of motion in special relativity is considered. Also the inverse problem of obtaining the body's equation of motion from a known equation of motion of its image is discussed. Some examples of this problem solution are considered. As…

  12. HIGH EXPLOSIVE CRATER STUDIES: DESERT ALLUVIUM

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Murphey, B.F.

    1961-05-01

    Crater dimensions were determined for 23 explosions of 256-pound spherical TNT charges buried in desert alluvium. As opposed to previous work covering depths of burst as great as 6 feet, the work presented in this report extends knowledge of apparent crater radius and depth to depths of burst as great as 30 feet. Optimum depth of burst for apparent crater radius was near 10 feet and for apparent crater depth near 8 feet. Surface motion photography illustrated a very great slowing down of the surface motion between depths of burst of 9.5 and 15.9 feet. Crater contours, profiles, snd overheadmore » photographs are presented as illustrations. (auth)« less

  13. Use of a Computer Simulation To Develop Mental Simulations for Understanding Relative Motion Concepts.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Monaghan, James M.; Clement, John

    1999-01-01

    Presents evidence for students' qualitative and quantitative difficulties with apparently simple one-dimensional relative-motion problems, students' spontaneous visualization of relative-motion problems, the visualizations facilitating solution of these problems, and students' memories of the online computer simulation used as a framework for…

  14. Proper-Motion Study of the Magellanic Clouds Using SPM Material

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-12-01

    F. VAN ALTENA I, NORBERT ZACHARIAS2, DANA I. CASETTI-DINESCU I, VLADIMIR I. KORCHAGIN I, iMANTSPLATAIS3, DAVID G. MONE -r4, CARLOS E. LOPEZ5, DAVID...difference of the two clouds to within ±54 km S-I. The absolute proper-motion results are consistent with the Clouds’ orbits being marginally bound...consistent with the Clouds’ orbits being marginally bound to the Milky Way, albeit on an elongated orbit. The inferred relative velocity between the

  15. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Gaia-PS1-SDSS (GPS1) proper motion catalog (Tian+, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tian, H.-J.; Gupta, P.; Sesar, B.; Rix, H.-W.; Martin, N. F.; Liu, C.; Goldman, B.; Platais, I.; Kudritzki, R.-P.; Waters, C. Z.

    2018-02-01

    In order to construct proper motions, we analyze and model catalog positions from four different imaging surveys, as discussed below. Gaia DR1 is based on observations collected between 2014 July 25 and 2015 September 16. PS1 observations were collected between 2010 and 2014. The SDSS DR9 data used here were obtained in the years between 2000 and 2008. The images from 2MASS were taken between 1997 and 2001. (1 data file).

  16. Documentation for the machine readable version of the Yale Catalogue of the Positions and Proper Motions of Stars between Declinations -60 deg and -70 deg (Fallon 1983)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roman, N. G.; Warren, W. H., Jr.

    1984-01-01

    The machine-readable, character-coded version of the catalog, as it is currently being distributed from the Astronomical Data Center(ADC), is described. The format and data provided in the magnetic tape version differ somewhat from those of the published catalog, which was also produced from a tape prepared at the ADC. The primary catalog data are positions and proper motions (equinox 1950.0) for 14597 stars.

  17. HST Proper Motions of Distant Globular Clusters: Constraining the Formation & Mass of the Milky Way

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sohn, S. Tony; van der Marel, Roeland P.; Deason, Alis; Bellini, Andrea; Besla, Gurtina; Watkins, Laura

    2018-04-01

    Proper motions (PMs) are required to calculate accurate orbits of globular clusters (GCs) in the Milky Way (MW) halo. We present our HST program to create a PM database for 20 GCs at distances of R GC = 10-100 kpc. Targets are discussed along with PM measurement methods. We also describe how our PM results can be used for Gaia as an external check, and discuss the synergy between HST and Gaia as astrometric instruments in the coming years.

  18. THE SOLAR NEIGHBORHOOD. XXVI. AP Col: THE CLOSEST (8.4 pc) PRE-MAIN-SEQUENCE STAR

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Riedel, Adric R.; Henry, Todd J.; Jao, Wei-Chun

    2011-10-15

    We present the results of a multi-technique investigation of the M4.5Ve flare star AP Col, which we discover to be the nearest pre-main-sequence star. These include astrometric data from the CTIO 0.9 m, from which we derive a proper motion of 342.0 {+-} 0.5 mas yr{sup -1}, a trigonometric parallax of 119.21 {+-} 0.98 mas (8.39 {+-} 0.07 pc), and photometry and photometric variability at optical wavelengths. We also provide spectroscopic data, including radial velocity (22.4 {+-} 0.3 km s{sup -1}), lithium equivalent width (EW) (0.28 {+-} 0.02 A), H{alpha} EW (-6.0 to -35 A), vsin i (11 {+-} 1more » km s{sup -1}), and gravity indicators from the Siding Spring 2.3 m WiFeS, Lick 3 m Hamilton echelle, and Keck-I HIRES echelle spectrographs. The combined observations demonstrate that AP Col is the closer of only two known systems within 10 pc of the Sun younger than 100 Myr. Given its space motion and apparent age of 12-50 Myr, AP Col is likely a member of the recently proposed {approx}40 Myr old Argus/IC 2391 Association.« less

  19. Construction of Lagrangians and Hamiltonians from the Equation of Motion

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yan, C. C.

    1978-01-01

    Demonstrates that infinitely many Lagrangians and Hamiltonians can be constructed from a given equation of motion. Points out the lack of an established criterion for making a proper selection. (Author/GA)

  20. Field signature for apparently superluminal particle motion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Land, Martin

    2015-05-01

    In the context of Stueckelberg's covariant symplectic mechanics, Horwitz and Aharonovich [1] have proposed a simple mechanism by which a particle traveling below light speed almost everywhere may exhibit a transit time that suggests superluminal motion. This mechanism, which requires precise measurement of the particle velocity, involves a subtle perturbation affecting the particle's recorded time coordinate caused by virtual pair processes. The Stueckelberg framework is particularly well suited to such problems, because it permits pair creation/annihilation at the classical level. In this paper, we study a trajectory of the type proposed by Horwitz and Aharonovich, and derive the Maxwell 4-vector potential associated with the motion. We show that the resulting fields carry a signature associated with the apparent superluminal motion, providing an independent test for the mechanism that does not require direct observation of the trajectory, except at the detector.

  1. Kinematics of Local, High-Velocity K dwarfs in the SUPERBLINK Proper Motion Catalog

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Bokyoung; Lepine, Sebastien

    2018-01-01

    We present a study of the kinematics of 345,480 K stars within 2 kpc of the Sun, based on data from the SUPERBLINK catalog of stars with high proper motions (> 40 mas/yr), combined with data from the 2MASS survey and from the first GAIA release, which together yields proper motions accurate to ~2 mas/yr. All K dwarfs were selected based on their G-K colors, and photometric distances were estimated from a re-calibrated color-magnitude relationship for K dwarfs. We plot transverse velocities VT in various directions on the sky, to examine the local distribution of K dwarfs in velocity space. We have also obtained radial velocity information for a subsample of 10,128 stars, from RAVE and SDSS DR12, which we use to construct spatial velocity (U, V, W) plots. About a third (123,350) of the stars are high-velocity K dwarfs, with motions consistent with the local Galactic halo population. Our kinematic analysis suggests that their velocity-space distribution is very uniform, and we find no evidence of substructure that might arise, e.g., from local streams or moving groups.

  2. Neural mechanisms underlying sound-induced visual motion perception: An fMRI study.

    PubMed

    Hidaka, Souta; Higuchi, Satomi; Teramoto, Wataru; Sugita, Yoichi

    2017-07-01

    Studies of crossmodal interactions in motion perception have reported activation in several brain areas, including those related to motion processing and/or sensory association, in response to multimodal (e.g., visual and auditory) stimuli that were both in motion. Recent studies have demonstrated that sounds can trigger illusory visual apparent motion to static visual stimuli (sound-induced visual motion: SIVM): A visual stimulus blinking at a fixed location is perceived to be moving laterally when an alternating left-right sound is also present. Here, we investigated brain activity related to the perception of SIVM using a 7T functional magnetic resonance imaging technique. Specifically, we focused on the patterns of neural activities in SIVM and visually induced visual apparent motion (VIVM). We observed shared activations in the middle occipital area (V5/hMT), which is thought to be involved in visual motion processing, for SIVM and VIVM. Moreover, as compared to VIVM, SIVM resulted in greater activation in the superior temporal area and dominant functional connectivity between the V5/hMT area and the areas related to auditory and crossmodal motion processing. These findings indicate that similar but partially different neural mechanisms could be involved in auditory-induced and visually-induced motion perception, and neural signals in auditory, visual, and, crossmodal motion processing areas closely and directly interact in the perception of SIVM. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Comparing the role of absolute sea-level rise and vertical tectonic motions in coastal flooding, Torres Islands (Vanuatu)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ballu, Valérie; Bouin, Marie-Noëlle; Siméoni, Patricia; Crawford, Wayne C.; Calmant, Stephane; Boré, Jean-Michel; Kanas, Tony; Pelletier, Bernard

    2011-08-01

    Since the late 1990s, rising sea levels around the Torres Islands (north Vanuatu, southwest Pacific) have caused strong local and international concern. In 2002-2004, a village was displaced due to increasing sea incursions, and in 2005 a United Nations Environment Programme press release referred to the displaced village as perhaps the world's first climate change "refugees." We show here that vertical motions of the Torres Islands themselves dominate the apparent sea-level rise observed on the islands. From 1997 to 2009, the absolute sea level rose by 150 + /-20 mm. But GPS data reveal that the islands subsided by 117 + /-30 mm over the same time period, almost doubling the apparent gradual sea-level rise. Moreover, large earthquakes that occurred just before and after this period caused several hundreds of mm of sudden vertical motion, generating larger apparent sea-level changes than those observed during the entire intervening period. Our results show that vertical ground motions must be accounted for when evaluating sea-level change hazards in active tectonic regions. These data are needed to help communities and governments understand environmental changes and make the best decisions for their future.

  4. Comparing the role of absolute sea-level rise and vertical tectonic motions in coastal flooding, Torres Islands (Vanuatu).

    PubMed

    Ballu, Valérie; Bouin, Marie-Noëlle; Siméoni, Patricia; Crawford, Wayne C; Calmant, Stephane; Boré, Jean-Michel; Kanas, Tony; Pelletier, Bernard

    2011-08-09

    Since the late 1990s, rising sea levels around the Torres Islands (north Vanuatu, southwest Pacific) have caused strong local and international concern. In 2002-2004, a village was displaced due to increasing sea incursions, and in 2005 a United Nations Environment Programme press release referred to the displaced village as perhaps the world's first climate change "refugees." We show here that vertical motions of the Torres Islands themselves dominate the apparent sea-level rise observed on the islands. From 1997 to 2009, the absolute sea level rose by 150 + /-20 mm. But GPS data reveal that the islands subsided by 117 + /-30 mm over the same time period, almost doubling the apparent gradual sea-level rise. Moreover, large earthquakes that occurred just before and after this period caused several hundreds of mm of sudden vertical motion, generating larger apparent sea-level changes than those observed during the entire intervening period. Our results show that vertical ground motions must be accounted for when evaluating sea-level change hazards in active tectonic regions. These data are needed to help communities and governments understand environmental changes and make the best decisions for their future.

  5. Very-long-baseline radio interferometry observations of low power radio galaxies.

    PubMed Central

    Giovannini, G; Cotton, W D; Feretti, L; Lara, L; Venturi, T; Marcaide, J M

    1995-01-01

    The parsec scale properties of low power radio galaxies are reviewed here, using the available data on 12 Fanaroff-Riley type I galaxies. The most frequent radio structure is an asymmetric parsec-scale morphology--i.e., core and one-sided jet. It is shared by 9 (possibly 10) of the 12 mapped radio galaxies. One (possibly 2) of the other galaxies has a two-sided jet emission. Two sources are known from published data to show a proper motion; we present here evidence for proper motion in two more galaxies. Therefore, in the present sample we have 4 radio galaxies with a measured proper motion. One of these has a very symmetric structure and therefore should be in the plane of the sky. The results discussed here are in agreement with the predictions of the unified scheme models. Moreover, the present data indicate that the parsec scale structure in low and high power radio galaxies is essentially the same. PMID:11607596

  6. NGC 2548: clumpy spatial and kinematic structure in an intermediate-age Galactic cluster

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vicente, Belén; Sánchez, Néstor; Alfaro, Emilio J.

    2016-09-01

    NGC 2548 is a ˜400-500 Myr old open cluster with evidence of spatial substructures likely caused by its interaction with the Galactic disc. In this work we use precise astrometric data from the Carte du Ciel - San Fernando (CdC-SF) catalogue to study the clumpy structure in this cluster. We confirm the fragmented structure of NGC 2548 but, additionally, the relatively high precision of our kinematic data lead us to the first detection of substructures in the proper motion space of a stellar cluster. There are three spatially separated cores each of which has its own counterpart in the proper motion distribution. The two main cores lie nearly parallel to the Galactic plane whereas the third one is significantly fainter than the others and it moves towards the Galactic plane separating from the rest of the cluster. We derive core positions and proper motions, as well as the stars belonging to each core.

  7. A Spectroscopic Catalog of Nearby, High Proper Motion M subdwarfs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hejazi, Neda; Lepine, Sebastien; Homeier, Derek

    2018-01-01

    We present a catalog of 350 metal-poor M subdwarfs, most of them likely from the local Galactic halo population, assembled from medium-resolution observations made at the MDM observatory. All objects are high proper motion stars, with 257 of them having proper motions > 0.4"/yr. We have identified the brightest prototypes for each bin of a grid of 14 spectral subtypes (M0, M0.5, M1, … M6.5) and 9 metallicity bins that go from the moderately metal-poor subdwarfs (sdM), to the more metal-poor extreme subdwarfs (esdM), to the most metal-poor ultra subdwarfs (usdM), each of which is subdivided into three finer metallicity subclasses. The spectral classification by subtype and metallicity class has been determined by a template-fit method, and confirmed by synthetic-model fitting using the BT-Settl spectral grid. We provide the list of the brightest prototypes for each subtype/subclass, as a guide for future high-resolution surveys of low-mass, metal-poor stars.

  8. Fifth Fundamental Catalogue (FK5). Part 1: Basic fundamental stars (Fricke, Schwan, and Lederle 1988): Documentation for the machine-readable version

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Warren, Wayne H., Jr.

    1990-01-01

    The machine-readable version of the catalog, as it is currently being distributed from the Astronomical Data Center, is described. The Basic FK5 provides improved mean positions and proper motions for the 1535 classical fundamental stars that had been included in the FK3 and FK4 catalogs. The machine version of the catalog contains the positions and proper motions of the Basic FK5 stars for the epochs and equinoxes J2000.0 and B1950.0, the mean epochs of individual observed right ascensions and declinations used to determine the final positions, and the mean errors of the final positions and proper motions for the reported epochs. The cross identifications to other designations used for the FK5 stars that are given in the published catalog were not included in the original machine versions, but the Durchmusterung numbers have been added at the Astronomical Data Center.

  9. A DYNAMICAL SIGNATURE OF MULTIPLE STELLAR POPULATIONS IN 47 TUCANAE

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Richer, Harvey B.; Heyl, Jeremy; Anderson, Jay

    2013-07-01

    Based on the width of its main sequence, and an actual observed split when viewed through particular filters, it is widely accepted that 47 Tucanae contains multiple stellar populations. In this contribution, we divide the main sequence of 47 Tuc into four color groups, which presumably represent stars of various chemical compositions. The kinematic properties of each of these groups are explored via proper motions, and a strong signal emerges of differing proper-motion anisotropies with differing main-sequence color; the bluest main-sequence stars exhibit the largest proper-motion anisotropy which becomes undetectable for the reddest stars. In addition, the bluest stars aremore » also the most centrally concentrated. A similar analysis for Small Magellanic Cloud stars, which are located in the background of 47 Tuc on our frames, yields none of the anisotropy exhibited by the 47 Tuc stars. We discuss implications of these results for possible formation scenarios of the various populations.« less

  10. 9 CFR 147.47 - Conference consideration of proposed changes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... proposal. If moved and seconded, the proposal is subject to discussion and voted. If there is no motion for approval, or if moved but not seconded, there can be no discussion or vote. (e) Discussion on any motion must be withheld until the motion has been properly seconded, except that the delegate making the...

  11. The Solar Neighborhood. XXVII. Discovery of New Proper Motion Stars with μ >= 0farcs18 yr-1 in the Southern Sky with 16.5 < R 59F <= 18.0

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boyd, Mark R.; Henry, Todd J.; Jao, Wei-Chun; Subasavage, John P.; Hambly, Nigel C.

    2011-09-01

    Here we present 1584 new southern proper motion systems with μ >= 0farcs18 yr-1 and 16.5 > R 59F >= 18.0. This search complements the six previous SuperCOSMOS-RECONS (SCR) proper motion searches of the southern sky for stars within the same proper motion range, but with R 59F <= 16.5. As in previous papers, we present distance estimates for these systems and find that three systems are estimated to be within 25 pc, including one, SCR 1546-5534, possibly within the RECONS 10 pc horizon at 6.7 pc, making it the second nearest discovery of the searches. We find 97 white dwarf candidates with distance estimates between 10 and 120 pc, as well as 557 cool subdwarf candidates. The subdwarfs found in this paper make up nearly half of the subdwarf systems reported from our SCR searches and are significantly redder than those discovered thus far. The SCR searches have now found 155 red dwarfs estimated to be within 25 pc, including 10 within 10 pc. In addition, 143 white dwarf candidates and 1155 cool subdwarf candidates have been discovered. The 1584 systems reported here augment the sample of 4724 systems previously discovered in our SCR searches and imply that additional systems fainter than R 59F = 18.0 are yet to be discovered.

  12. Incorporating Animation Concepts and Principles in STEM Education

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Harrison, Henry L., III; Hummell, Laura J.

    2010-01-01

    Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of static images that creates the illusion of movement. This optical illusion is often called perception of motion, persistence of vision, illusion of motion, or short-range apparent motion. The phenomenon occurs when the eye is exposed to rapidly changing still images, with each image being changed…

  13. Excitatory synaptic inputs to mouse on-off direction-selective retinal ganglion cells lack direction tuning.

    PubMed

    Park, Silvia J H; Kim, In-Jung; Looger, Loren L; Demb, Jonathan B; Borghuis, Bart G

    2014-03-12

    Direction selectivity represents a fundamental visual computation. In mammalian retina, On-Off direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) respond strongly to motion in a preferred direction and weakly to motion in the opposite, null direction. Electrical recordings suggested three direction-selective (DS) synaptic mechanisms: DS GABA release during null-direction motion from starburst amacrine cells (SACs) and DS acetylcholine and glutamate release during preferred direction motion from SACs and bipolar cells. However, evidence for DS acetylcholine and glutamate release has been inconsistent and at least one bipolar cell type that contacts another DSGC (On-type) lacks DS release. Here, whole-cell recordings in mouse retina showed that cholinergic input to On-Off DSGCs lacked DS, whereas the remaining (glutamatergic) input showed apparent DS. Fluorescence measurements with the glutamate biosensor intensity-based glutamate-sensing fluorescent reporter (iGluSnFR) conditionally expressed in On-Off DSGCs showed that glutamate release in both On- and Off-layer dendrites lacked DS, whereas simultaneously recorded excitatory currents showed apparent DS. With GABA-A receptors blocked, both iGluSnFR signals and excitatory currents lacked DS. Our measurements rule out DS release from bipolar cells onto On-Off DSGCs and support a theoretical model suggesting that apparent DS excitation in voltage-clamp recordings results from inadequate voltage control of DSGC dendrites during null-direction inhibition. SAC GABA release is the apparent sole source of DS input onto On-Off DSGCs.

  14. Improvement of Accuracy of Proper Motions of Hipparcos Catalogue Stars Using Optical Latitude Observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Damljanovic, G.

    2009-09-01

    Commission 19 (Earth Rotation) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) established the Working Group on Earth Rotation in the Hipparcos Reference Frame (WG ERHRF) in 1995 to collect the optical observations of latitude and universal time variations, made during 1899.7 -- 1992.0 in line with the Earth orientation programmes (to derive Earth Orientation Parameters -- EOP), with Dr. Jan Vondrák (Astronomical Institute of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague) as the head of WG ERHRF. We participated in this international project using Belgrade Visual Zenith -- Telescope (BLZ) latitude data for the period 1949.0 -- 1986.0, after a new reduction of BLZ data made in my MSc thesis, finished in 1997 at the Faculty of Mathematics of University of Belgrade. Dr. Vondrák collected 4.4 million optical observations of latitude/universal time variations made at 33 observatories. The data were used for the EOP investigations, Hipparcos satellite Catalogue -- radio sources connection, etc. Nowadays, it is customary to correct the positions and proper motions of stars of Hipparcos Catalogue (as an optical reference frame) using ground -- based observations of some Hipparcos stars. In this PhD thesis we use the latitude observations made with several types of classical astrometric instruments: visual (ZT) and floating zenith -- telescope (FZT), visual zenith tube (VZT) and photographic zenith tube (PZT); 26 different instruments located at many observatories all over the world (used in the programs of monitoring the Earth orientation during the 20th century). We received the data from Dr. Vondrák via private communication. The observatories and instruments are: International Latitude Service -- ILS (Carloforte -- CA ZT, Cincinnati -- CI ZT, Gaithersburg -- GT ZT, Kitab -- KZ ZT, Mizusawa -- MZZ ZT, Tschardjui -- TS ZT and Ukiah -- UK ZT), Belgrade (BLZ ZT), Blagoveschtschensk (BK ZT), Irkutsk (IRZ ZT), Poltava (POL ZT), Pulkovo (PU and PUZ ZT), Varsovie (VJZ ZT), Mizusawa (MZL FZT), Tuorla -- Turku (TT VZT), Mizusawa (MZP and MZQ PZT), Mount Stromlo (MS PZT), Ondřejov (OJP PZT), Punta Indio (PIP PZT), Richmond (RCP and RCQ PZT) and Washington (WA, W and WGQ PZT). The task is to improve the proper motions in declination of the observed Hipparcos stars. The original method was developed, and it consists of removing from the instantaneous observed latitudes all known effects (polar motion and some local instrumental errors). The corrected latitudes are then used to calculate the corrections of the Hipparcos proper motions in declination (Damljanović 2005). The Least Squares Method (LSM) is used with the linear model. We compared the calculated results with ARIHIP and EOC-2 data, and found a good agreement. The newly obtained values of proper motions in declination are substantially more precise than those of the Hipparcos Catalogue. It is because the time interval covered by the latitude observations (tens of years) is much longer than the Hipparcos one (less than four years), and because of the great number of observations made during this interval (Damljanović et al. 2006). Our method is completely different from the one used to compute the EOC-2 catalogue (Vondrák 2004). It was also an almost independent check of the proper motions of EOC-2. The catalogue EOC-2 is used in this thesis to distinguish the corrections of the two stars of a pair observed by using the Horrebow -- Talcott method. The difference between the two proper motions is constrained by the difference in the EOC-2 and Hipparcos catalogues (Damljanović and Pejović 2006). The main result of the thesis is the catalogue of proper motions in declination of 2347 Hipparcos stars.

  15. Apparent diffusion coefficient measurement in a moving phantom simulating linear respiratory motion.

    PubMed

    Kwee, Thomas C; Takahara, Taro; Muro, Isao; Van Cauteren, Marc; Imai, Yutaka; Nievelstein, Rutger A J; Mali, Willem P T M; Luijten, Peter R

    2010-10-01

    The aim of this study was to examine the effect of simulated linear respiratory motion on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements. Six rectangular test tubes (14 × 92 mm) filled with either water, tomato ketchup, or mayonnaise were positioned in a box containing agarose gel. This box was connected to a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, capable of inducing periodic linear motion in the long-axis direction of the magnetic bore (23-mm stroke). Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed for both the static and moving phantoms, and ADC measurements were made in the six test tubes in both situations. In the three test tubes whose long axes were parallel to the direction of motion, ADCs agreed well between the moving and static phantom situations. However, in two test tubes that were filled with fluids that had a considerably lower diffusion coefficient than the surrounding agarose gel, and whose long axes were perpendicular to the direction of motion, the ADCs agreed poorly between the moving and static phantom situations. ADC measurements of large homogeneous structures are not affected by linear respiratory motion. However, ADC measurements of inhomogeneous or small structures are affected by linear respiratory motion due to partial volume effects.

  16. Second-order processing of four-stroke apparent motion.

    PubMed

    Mather, G; Murdoch, L

    1999-05-01

    In four-stroke apparent motion displays, pattern elements oscillate between two adjacent positions and synchronously reverse in contrast, but appear to move unidirectionally. For example, if rightward shifts preserve contrast but leftward shifts reverse contrast, consistent rightward motion is seen. In conventional first-order displays, elements reverse in luminance contrast (e.g. light elements become dark, and vice-versa). The resulting perception can be explained by responses in elementary motion detectors turned to spatio-temporal orientation. Second-order motion displays contain texture-defined elements, and there is some evidence that they excite second-order motion detectors that extract spatio-temporal orientation following the application of a non-linear 'texture-grabbing' transform by the visual system. We generated a variety of second-order four-stroke displays, containing texture-contrast reversals instead of luminance contrast reversals, and used their effectiveness as a diagnostic test for the presence of various forms of non-linear transform in the second-order motion system. Displays containing only forward or only reversed phi motion sequences were also tested. Displays defined by variation in luminance, contrast, orientation, and size were effective. Displays defined by variation in motion, dynamism, and stereo were partially or wholly ineffective. Results obtained with contrast-reversing and four-stroke displays indicate that only relatively simple non-linear transforms (involving spatial filtering and rectification) are available during second-order energy-based motion analysis.

  17. Proper Motions of Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies from Hubble Space Telescope Imaging. III. Measurement for Ursa Minor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piatek, Slawomir; Pryor, Carlton; Bristow, Paul; Olszewski, Edward W.; Harris, Hugh C.; Mateo, Mario; Minniti, Dante; Tinney, Christopher G.

    2005-07-01

    This article presents a measurement of the proper motion of the Ursa Minor dwarf spheroidal galaxy determined from images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope in two distinct fields. Each field contains a quasi-stellar object that serves as the ``reference point.'' The measured proper motion for Ursa Minor, expressed in the equatorial coordinate system, is (μα,μδ)=(-50+/-17,22+/-16) mas century-1. Removing the contributions of the solar motion and the motion of the local standard of rest yields the proper motion in the Galactic rest frame: (μGrfα,μGrfδ)=(-8+/-17,38+/-16) mas century-1. The implied space velocity with respect to the Galactic center has a radial component of Vr=-75+/-44 km s-1 and a tangential component of Vt=144+/-50 km s-1. Integrating the motion of Ursa Minor in a realistic potential for the Milky Way produces orbital elements. The perigalacticon and apogalacticon are 40 (10, 76) and 89 (78, 160) kpc, respectively, where the values in the parentheses represent the 95% confidence intervals derived from Monte Carlo experiments. The eccentricity of the orbit is 0.39 (0.09, 0.79), and the orbital period is 1.5 (1.1, 2.7) Gyr. The orbit is retrograde and inclined by 124° (94°, 136°) to the Galactic plane. Ursa Minor is not a likely member of a proposed stream of galaxies on similar orbits around the Milky Way, nor is the plane of its orbit coincident with a recently proposed planar alignment of galaxies around the Milky Way. Comparing the orbits of Ursa Minor and Carina shows no reason for the different star formation histories of these two galaxies. Ursa Minor must contain dark matter to have a high probability of having survived disruption by the Galactic tidal force until the present. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

  18. Predicted space motions for hypervelocity and runaway stars: proper motions and radial velocities for the Gaia Era

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kenyon, Scott J.; Brown, Warren R.; Geller, Margaret J.

    We predict the distinctive three-dimensional space motions of hypervelocity stars (HVSs) and runaway stars moving in a realistic Galactic potential. For nearby stars with distances less than 10 kpc, unbound stars are rare; proper motions alone rarely isolate bound HVSs and runaways from indigenous halo stars. At large distances of 20-100 kpc, unbound HVSs are much more common than runaways; radial velocities easily distinguish both from indigenous halo stars. Comparisons of the predictions with existing observations are encouraging. Although the models fail to match observations of solar-type HVS candidates from SEGUE, they agree well with data for B-type HVS andmore » runaways from other surveys. Complete samples of g ≲ 20 stars with Gaia should provide clear tests of formation models for HVSs and runaways and will enable accurate probes of the shape of the Galactic potential.« less

  19. Apparent Ionic Charge in Electrolyte and Polyelectrolyte Solutions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Magdelenat, H.; And Others

    1978-01-01

    Compares average displacements of charged particles under thermal motion alone with those obtained by the action of an external electric field to develop a concept of "apparent charge" to approximate actual structural charge in an electrolyte solution. (SL)

  20. The sopite syndrome revisited: Drowsiness and mood changes during real or apparent motion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lawson, B. D.; Mead, A. M.

    The sopite syndrome is a poorly understood response to motion. Drowsiness and mood changes are the primary characteristics of the syndrome. The sopite syndrome can exist in isolation from more apparent symptoms such as nausea, can last long; after nausea has subsided, and can debilitate some individuals. It is most likely a distinct syndrome from "regular" motion sickness or common fatigue, and is of potential concern in a variety of situations. The syndrome may be particularly hazardous in transportation settings where other performance challenges (e.g., sleep deprivation) are already present. It is also a potential concern in cases where illnesses such as sleep disorders or depression may interact with the syndrome and confuse diagnosis.

  1. The Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lindegren, Lennart

    2018-04-01

    Gaia DR1 is based on the first 14 months of Gaia's observations. This is not long enough to reliably disentangle the parallax effect from proper motion. For most sources, therefore, only positions and magnitudes are given. Parallaxes and proper motions were nevertheless obtained for about two million of the brighter stars through the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (TGAS), combining the Gaia observations with the much earlier Hipparcos and Tycho-2 positions. In this review I focus on some important characteristics and limitations of TGAS, in particular the reference frame, astrometric uncertainties, correlations, and systematic errors.

  2. A Multi-Survey Approach to White Dwarf Discovery

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-04-01

    LSPM-North), the Two Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ), and the USNO-B1.0 catalog, we use a succession of methods to isolate white dwarf (WD) candidates...including SDSS, the Two Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ; Skrutskie et al. 2006), USNO-B1.0 (Monet et al. 2003), and the proper motion survey of Lépine & Shara...Shara Proper Motion North Catalog (LSPM-North), the Two Micron All Sky Survey ( 2MASS ), and the USNO-B1.0 catalog, we use a succession of methods to

  3. Outward Motions of SiO Masers around VX Sgr

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Su, J. B.; Shen, Z.-Q.; Chen, X.; Jiang, D. R.

    2014-09-01

    We report the proper motions of SiO maser features around VX Sgr from the two-epoch VLBA observations (2006 December 15 and 2007 August 19). The majority of maser feature activities show a trend of outward motions. It is consistent with our previous finding that the outflow may play an important role for SiO maser pumping.

  4. Spontaneous mode-selection in the self-propelled motion of a solid/liquid composite driven by interfacial instability

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takabatake, Fumi; Magome, Nobuyuki; Ichikawa, Masatoshi; Yoshikawa, Kenichi

    2011-03-01

    Spontaneous motion of a solid/liquid composite induced by a chemical Marangoni effect, where an oil droplet attached to a solid soap is placed on a water phase, was investigated. The composite exhibits various characteristic motions, such as revolution (orbital motion) and translational motion. The results showed that the mode of this spontaneous motion switches with a change in the size of the solid scrap. The essential features of this mode-switching were reproduced by ordinary differential equations by considering nonlinear friction with proper symmetry.

  5. New nearby white dwarfs from Gaia DR1 TGAS and UCAC5/URAT

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scholz, R.-D.; Meusinger, H.; Jahreiß, H.

    2018-05-01

    Aims: Using an accurate Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) 25 pc sample that is nearly complete for GK stars and selecting common proper motion (CPM) candidates from the 5th United States Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC5), we search for new white dwarf (WD) companions around nearby stars with relatively small proper motions. Methods: To investigate known CPM systems in TGAS and to select CPM candidates in TGAS+UCAC5, we took into account the expected effect of orbital motion on the proper motion and proper motion catalogue errors. Colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) MJ /J - Ks and MG /G - J were used to verify CPM candidates from UCAC5. Assuming their common distance with a given TGAS star, we searched for candidates that occupied similar regions in the CMDs as the few known nearby WDs (four in TGAS) and WD companions (three in TGAS+UCAC5). The CPM candidates with colours and absolute magnitudes corresponding neither to the main sequence nor to the WD sequence were considered as doubtful or subdwarf candidates. Results: With a minimum proper motion of 60 mas yr-1, we selected three WD companion candidates; two of which are also confirmed by their significant parallaxes measured in URAT data, whereas the third may also be a chance alignment of a distant halo star with a nearby TGAS star that has an angular separation of about 465 arcsec. One additional nearby WD candidate was found from its URAT parallax and GJKs photometry. With HD 166435 B orbiting a well-known G1 star at ≈24.6 pc with a projected physical separation of ≈700 AU, we discovered one of the hottest WDs, classified by us as DA2.0 ± 0.2, in the solar neighbourhood. We also found TYC 3980-1081-1 B, a strong cool WD companion candidate around a recently identified new solar neighbour with a TGAS parallax corresponding to a distance of ≈8.3 pc and our photometric classification as ≈M2 dwarf. This raises the question of whether previous assumptions on the completeness of the WD sample to a distance of 13 pc were correct. Partly based on observations with the 2.2 m telescope of the German-Spanish Astronomical Centre at Calar Alto, Spain

  6. Analysis of accelerated motion in the theory of relativity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, R. T.

    1976-01-01

    Conventional treatments of accelerated motion in the theory of relativity have led to certain difficulties of interpretation. Certain reversals in the apparent gravitational field of an accelerated body may be avoided by simpler analysis based on the use of restricted conformal transformations. In the conformal theory the velocity of light remains constant even for experimenters in accelerated motion. The problem considered is that of rectilinear motion with a variable velocity. The motion takes place along the x or x' axis of two coordinate systems.

  7. Three kinds of particles on a single rationally parameterized world line

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kassandrov, V. V.; Markova, N. V.

    2016-10-01

    We consider the light cone (`retardation') equation (LCE) of an inertially moving observer and a single worldline parameterized by arbitrary rational functions. Then a set of apparent copies, R- or C-particles, defined by the (real or complex conjugate) roots of the LCE will be detected by the observer. For any rational worldline the collective R-C dynamics is manifestly Lorentz-invariant and conservative; the latter property follows directly from the structure of Vieta formulas for the LCE roots. In particular, two Lorentz invariants, the square of total 4-momentum and total rest mass, are distinct and both integer-valued. Asymptotically, at large values of the observer's proper time, one distinguishes three types of the LCE roots and associated R-C particles, with specific locations and evolutions; each of three kinds of particles can assemble into compact large groups - clusters. Throughout the paper, we make no use of differential equations of motion, field equations, etc.: the collective R-C dynamics is purely algebraic

  8. Automated Spatiotemporal Analysis of Fibrils and Coronal Rain Using the Rolling Hough Transform

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schad, Thomas

    2017-09-01

    A technique is presented that automates the direction characterization of curvilinear features in multidimensional solar imaging datasets. It is an extension of the Rolling Hough Transform (RHT) technique presented by Clark, Peek, and Putman ( Astrophys. J. 789, 82, 2014), and it excels at rapid quantification of spatial and spatiotemporal feature orientation even for applications with a low signal-to-noise ratio. It operates on a pixel-by-pixel basis within a dataset and reliably quantifies orientation even for locations not centered on a feature ridge, which is used here to derive a quasi-continuous map of the chromospheric fine-structure projection angle. For time-series analysis, a procedure is developed that uses a hierarchical application of the RHT to automatically derive the apparent motion of coronal rain observed off-limb. Essential to the success of this technique is the formulation presented in this article for the RHT error analysis as it provides a means to properly filter results.

  9. Spectroscopic observations of cool degenerate star candidates

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hintzen, P.

    1986-01-01

    Spectroscopic observations are reported for 23 Luyten Half-Second degenerate star candidates and for 13 Luyten-Palomar common proper-motion pairs containing possible degenerate star components. Twenty-five degenerate stars are identified, 20 of which lack previous spectroscopy. Most of these stars are cool - Luyten color class g or later. One star, LP 77-57, shows broad continuum depressions similar to those in LHS 1126, which Liebert and Dahn attributed to pressure-shifted C2. A second degenerate star, LHS 290, exhibits apparent strong Swan bands which are blueshifted about 75 A. Further observations, including polarimetry and photometry, are required to appraise the spectroscopic peculiarities of these stars. Finally, five cool, sharp-lined DA white dwarfs have been observed to detect lines of metals and to determine line strengths. None of these DAs show signs of Mg b or the G band, and four show no evidence of Ca II K. The attempt to detect Ca MI in the fifth star, G199-71, was inconclusive.

  10. Measuring attention using induced motion.

    PubMed

    Gogel, W C; Sharkey, T J

    1989-01-01

    Attention was measured by means of its effect upon induced motion. Perceived horizontal motion was induced in a vertically moving test spot by the physical horizontal motion of inducing objects. All stimuli were in a frontoparallel plane. The induced motion vectored with the physical motion to produce a clockwise or counterclockwise tilt in the apparent path of motion of the test spot. Either a single inducing object or two inducing objects moving in opposite directions were used. Twelve observers were instructed to attend to or to ignore the single inducing object while fixating the test object and, when the two opposing inducing objects were present, to attend to one inducing object while ignoring the other. Tracking of the test spot was visually monitored. The tilt of the path of apparent motion of the test spot was measured by tactile adjustment of a comparison rod. It was found that the measured tilt was substantially larger when the single inducing object was attended rather than ignored. For the two inducing objects, attending to one while ignoring the other clearly increased the effectiveness of the attended inducing object. The results are analyzed in terms of the distinction between voluntary and involuntary attention. The advantages of measuring attention by its effect on induced motion as compared with the use of a precueing procedure, and a hypothesis regarding the role of attention in modifying perceived spatial characteristics are discussed.

  11. General relativistic satellite astrometry. II. Modeling parallax and proper motion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    de Felice, F.; Bucciarelli, B.; Lattanzi, M. G.; Vecchiato, A.

    2001-07-01

    The non-perturbative general relativistic approach to global astrometry introduced by de Felice et al. (\\cite{defetal}) is here extended to account for the star motions on the Schwarzschild celestial sphere. A new expression of the observables, i.e. angular distances among stars, is provided, which takes into account the effects of parallax and proper motions. This dynamical model is then tested on an end-to-end simulation of the global astrometry mission GAIA. The results confirm the findings of our earlier work, which applied to the case of a static (angular coordinates only) sphere. In particular, measurements of large arcs among stars (each measurement good to ~ 100 mu arcsec, as expected for V ~ 17 mag stars) repeated over an observing period comparable to the mission lifetime foreseen for GAIA, can be modeled to yield estimates of positions, parallaxes, and annual proper motions good to ~ 15 mu arcsec. This second round of experiments confirms, within the limitations of the simulation and the assumptions of the current relativistic model, that the space-born global astrometry initiated with Hipparcos can be pushed down to the 10-5 arcsec accuracy level proposed with the GAIA mission. Finally, the simplified case we have solved can be used as reference for testing the limiting behavior of more realistic models as they become available.

  12. A survey for low-mass stellar and substellar members of the Hyades open cluster

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Melnikov, Stanislav; Eislöffel, Jochen

    2018-03-01

    Context. Unlike young open clusters (with ages < 250 Myr), the Hyades cluster (age 600 Myr) has a clear deficit of very low-mass stars (VLM) and brown dwarfs (BD). Since this open cluster has a low stellar density and covers several tens of square degrees on the sky, extended surveys are required to improve the statistics of the VLM/BD objects in the cluster. Aim. We search for new VLM stars and BD candidates in the Hyades cluster to improve the present-day cluster mass function down to substellar masses. Methods: An imaging survey of the Hyades with a completeness limit of 21.m5 in the R band and 20.m5 in the I band was carried out with the 2k × 2k CCD Schmidt camera at the 2 m Alfred Jensch Telescope in Tautenburg. We performed a photometric selection of the cluster member candidates by combining results of our survey with 2MASS JHKs photometry Results: We present a photometric and proper motion survey covering 23.4 deg2 in the Hyades cluster core region. Using optical/IR colour-magnitude diagrams, we identify 66 photometric cluster member candidates in the magnitude range 14.m7 < I < 20.m5. The proper motion measurements are based on several all-sky surveys with an epoch difference of 60-70 yr for the bright objects. The proper motions allowed us to discriminate the cluster members from field objects and resulted in 14 proper motion members of the Hyades. We rediscover Hy 6 as a proper motion member and classify it as a substellar object candidate (BD) based on the comparison of the observed colour-magnitude diagram with theoretical model isochrones. Conclusions: With our results, the mass function of the Hyades continues to be shallow below 0.15 M⊙ indicating that the Hyades have probably lost their lowest mass members by means of dynamical evolution. We conclude that the Hyades core represents the "VLM/BD desert" and that most of the substeller objects may have already left the volume of the cluster.

  13. Messier 35 (NGC 2168) DANCe. I. Membership, proper motions, and multiwavelength photometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouy, H.; Bertin, E.; Barrado, D.; Sarro, L. M.; Olivares, J.; Moraux, E.; Bouvier, J.; Cuillandre, J.-C.; Ribas, Á.; Beletsky, Y.

    2015-03-01

    Context. Messier 35 (NGC 2168) is an important young nearby cluster. Its age, richness and relative proximity make it an ideal target for stellar evolution studies. The Kepler K2 mission recently observed it and provided a high accuracy photometric time series of a large number of sources in this area of the sky. Identifying the cluster's members is therefore of high importance to optimize the interpretation and analysis of the Kepler K2 data. Aims: We aim to identify the cluster's members by deriving membership probabilities for the sources within 1° of the cluster's center, which is farther away than equivalent previous studies. Methods: We measure accurate proper motions and multiwavelength (optical and near-infrared) photometry using ground-based archival images of the cluster. We use these measurements to compute membership probabilities. The list of candidate members from the literature is used as a training set to identify the cluster's locus in a multidimensional space made of proper motions, luminosities, and colors. Results: The final catalog includes 338 892 sources with multiwavelength photometry. Approximately half (194 452) were detected at more than two epochs and we measured their proper motion and used it to derive membership probability. A total of 4349 candidate members with membership probabilities greater than 50% are found in this sample in the luminosity range between 10 mag and 22 mag. The slow proper motion of the cluster and the overlap of its sequence with the field and background sequences in almost all color-magnitude and color-color diagrams complicate the analysis and the contamination level is expected to be significant. Our study, nevertheless, provides a coherent and quantitative membership analysis of Messier 35 based on a large fraction of the best ground-based data sets obtained over the past 18 years. As such, it represents a valuable input for follow-up studies using, in particular, the Kepler K2 photometric time series. Table 3 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/575/A120

  14. Comparing the role of absolute sea-level rise and vertical tectonic motions in coastal flooding, Torres Islands (Vanuatu)

    PubMed Central

    Ballu, Valérie; Bouin, Marie-Noëlle; Siméoni, Patricia; Crawford, Wayne C.; Calmant, Stephane; Boré, Jean-Michel; Kanas, Tony; Pelletier, Bernard

    2011-01-01

    Since the late 1990s, rising sea levels around the Torres Islands (north Vanuatu, southwest Pacific) have caused strong local and international concern. In 2002–2004, a village was displaced due to increasing sea incursions, and in 2005 a United Nations Environment Programme press release referred to the displaced village as perhaps the world’s first climate change “refugees.” We show here that vertical motions of the Torres Islands themselves dominate the apparent sea-level rise observed on the islands. From 1997 to 2009, the absolute sea level rose by 150 + /-20 mm. But GPS data reveal that the islands subsided by 117 + /-30 mm over the same time period, almost doubling the apparent gradual sea-level rise. Moreover, large earthquakes that occurred just before and after this period caused several hundreds of mm of sudden vertical motion, generating larger apparent sea-level changes than those observed during the entire intervening period. Our results show that vertical ground motions must be accounted for when evaluating sea-level change hazards in active tectonic regions. These data are needed to help communities and governments understand environmental changes and make the best decisions for their future. PMID:21795605

  15. Activity and Kinematics of White Dwarf-M Dwarf Binaries from the SUPERBLINK Proper Motion Survey

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Skinner, Julie N.; Morgan, Dylan P.; West, Andrew A.

    We present an activity and kinematic analysis of high proper motion white dwarf-M dwarf binaries (WD+dMs) found in the SUPERBLINK survey, 178 of which are new identifications. To identify WD+dMs, we developed a UV–optical–IR color criterion and conducted a spectroscopic survey to confirm each candidate binary. For the newly identified systems, we fit the two components using model white dwarf spectra and M dwarf template spectra to determine physical parameters. We use H α chromospheric emission to examine the magnetic activity of the M dwarf in each system, and investigate how its activity is affected by the presence of amore » white dwarf companion. We find that the fraction of WD+dM binaries with active M dwarfs is significantly higher than their single M dwarf counterparts at early and mid-spectral types. We corroborate previous studies that find high activity fractions at both close and intermediate separations. At more distant separations, the binary fraction appears to approach the activity fraction for single M dwarfs. Using derived radial velocities and the proper motions, we calculate 3D space velocities for the WD+dMs in SUPERBLINK. For the entire SUPERBLINK WD+dMs, we find a large vertical velocity dispersion, indicating a dynamically hotter population compared to high proper motion samples of single M dwarfs. We compare the kinematics for systems with active M dwarfs and those with inactive M dwarfs, and find signatures of asymmetric drift in the inactive sample, indicating that they are drawn from an older population.« less

  16. The first US Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Germain, M. E.; Zacharias, N.; Urban, S. E.; Rafferty, T. J.; Holdenried, E. R.; Zacharias, M. I.; Hall, D. M.; Wycoff, G. L.; Monet, D. G.

    2000-05-01

    The USNO CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC) project is a high precision, astrometric survey of stars having R magnitudes between 7th and 16th. The positional accuracy is 20 mas for stars between 9th and 14th, and 70 mas for fainter stars. This gives a density (stars per square degree) higher than that of the Guide Star Catalog (GSC), with an improvement in positional accuracy of about a factor of ten. Observations began in January 1998 at Cerro Tololo Inter--American Observatory (CTIO) using a five-element 0.2 meter astrograph equipped with a 4k by 4k CCD. The instrument will be moved north in early 2001, and full sky coverage is expected by early 2003. A preliminary catalog (UCAC1) of positions and proper motions of 27 million stars has been constructed which is available on CD-ROM from USNO. Observations between 13 Feb 1998 and 07 Nov 1999 are included with a total of over 79,000 CCD frames covering 80% of the Southern Hemisphere. The catalog is on the International Celestial Reference System (ICRS), which is consistent with J2000. Proper motions of bright stars (V <= 12.5) were derived using a combination of ground-based astrometric catalogs, Hipparcos, and Tycho-2 positions, giving a typical error of 3 mas/yr. For the fainter stars the USNO A2.0 (Monet, 1998) was used as first epoch, with typical proper motion errors of 10 to 15 mas/yr. External comparisons with Tycho-2 and the Yale Southern Proper Motion (SPM) 2.0 data reveal systematic errors to be only on the 10 mas level.

  17. A method for determining the radius of an open cluster from stellar proper motions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sánchez, Néstor; Alfaro, Emilio J.; López-Martínez, Fátima

    2018-04-01

    We propose a method for calculating the radius of an open cluster in an objective way from an astrometric catalogue containing, at least, positions and proper motions. It uses the minimum spanning tree in the proper motion space to discriminate cluster stars from field stars and it quantifies the strength of the cluster-field separation by means of a statistical parameter defined for the first time in this paper. This is done for a range of different sampling radii from where the cluster radius is obtained as the size at which the best cluster-field separation is achieved. The novelty of this strategy is that the cluster radius is obtained independently of how its stars are spatially distributed. We test the reliability and robustness of the method with both simulated and real data from a well-studied open cluster (NGC 188), and apply it to UCAC4 data for five other open clusters with different catalogued radius values. NGC 188, NGC 1647, NGC 6603, and Ruprecht 155 yielded unambiguous radius values of 15.2 ± 1.8, 29.4 ± 3.4, 4.2 ± 1.7, and 7.0 ± 0.3 arcmin, respectively. ASCC 19 and Collinder 471 showed more than one possible solution, but it is not possible to know whether this is due to the involved uncertainties or due to the presence of complex patterns in their proper motion distributions, something that could be inherent to the physical object or due to the way in which the catalogue was sampled.

  18. RELATIVE PROPER MOTIONS IN THE RHO OPHIUCHI CLUSTER

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wilking, Bruce A.; Sullivan, Timothy; Vrba, Frederick J., E-mail: bwilking@umsl.edu, E-mail: tsullivan@umsl.edu, E-mail: fjv@nofs.navy.mil

    2015-12-10

    Near-infrared images optimized for astrometry have been obtained for four fields in the high-density L 1688 cloud core over a 12 year period. The targeted regions include deeply embedded young stellar objects (YSOs) and very low luminosity objects too faint and/or heavily veiled for spectroscopy. Relative proper motions in R.A. and decl. were computed for 111 sources and again for a subset of 65 YSOs, resulting in a mean proper motion of (0,0) for each field. Assuming each field has the same mean proper motion, YSOs in the four fields were combined to yield estimates of the velocity dispersions inmore » R.A. and decl. that are consistent with 1.0 km s{sup −1}. These values appear to be independent of the evolutionary state of the YSOs. The observed velocity dispersions are consistent with the dispersion in radial velocity derived for optically visible YSOs at the periphery of the cloud core and are consistent with virial equilibrium. The higher velocity dispersion of the YSOs in the plane of the sky relative to that of dense cores may be a consequence of stellar encounters due to dense cores and filaments fragmenting to form small groups of stars or the global collapse of the L 1688 cloud core. An analysis of the differential magnitudes of objects over the 12 year baseline has not only confirmed the near-infrared variability for 29 YSOs established by prior studies, but has also identified 18 new variability candidates. Four of these have not been previously identified as YSOs and may be newly identified cluster members.« less

  19. Vector Addition and the Speeding Ticket.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Brown, Nathan

    1993-01-01

    Discusses the teaching of vectors and the inadequate and inappropriate examples given in many textbooks. Suggests using the motion of a sailboat or the motion of a car moving on the Earth's surface as possible examples. Details a proper vector teaching example. (MVL)

  20. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Robo-AO observed cool subdwarf companions (Ziegler+, 2015)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ziegler, C.; Law, N. M.; Baranec, C.; Riddle, R. L.; Fuchs, J. T.

    2017-09-01

    We selected targets from the 564 spectral type F- through M-subdwarf candidates studied by Marshall (2007, J/AJ/134/778). These targets were selected from the New Luyten Two-Tenths catalog (NLTT; Luyten, 1979nlcs.book.....L; Luyten & Hughes 1980, Proper-Motion Survey with the Forty-Eight Inch Schmidt Telescope LV First Supplement to the NLTT Catalogue (Minneapolis, MN: Univ. Minnesota Press)) of high proper motion stars (>0.18 arcsec/yr) using a reduced proper motion diagram (RPM). Of the 552 subdwarfs confirmed by Marshall, a randomly selected sample of 348 G-, K-, and M-subdwarfs were observed by Robo-AO when available between other high priority surveys. We obtained high-angular-resolution images of the 348 subdwarfs during 32 separate nights of observations between 2012 September 3 and 2013 August 21 (UT). The observations were performed using the Robo-AO laser adaptive optics system (Riddle et al. 2012SPIE.8447E..2OR; Baranec et al. 2013, J. Visualized Exp. 72 e50021; 2014ApJ...790L...8B) mounted on the Palomar 60 inch telescope. (1 data file).

  1. Studying the Pair WDS 01487+7528 = HJ 2075 AB Using the GAIA-DR1 Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Romero, Francisco Rica

    2018-01-01

    In September 2016, the European Space Agency (ESA) released GAIA-DR1. ESA also published TGAS, a subset of Gaia source comprising those stars in the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogs for which a full 5-parameters astrometric solution have been achieved. After publication of TGAS, the author decided to use the parallaxes and proper motions to review the double stars studied by LIADA’s Double Star Section during 2003. This year LIADA measured and studied 103 pairs of which only 10 have both stellar components listed in TGAS. Of those 10 pairs, 80% (8 double stars) are optical and only 2 are physical (with common parallaxes and proper motions).The main object of this work is a new study of HJ 2075 AB (WDS 01487+7528), located at 60 pc and composed of stars of 10.0 and 11.3 magnitudes with spectral types G8V and K4V separated by 31". This is a physical pair according to TGAS data (common parallaxes and proper motions).

  2. Combining and Comparing Astrometric Data from Different Epochs: A Case Study with Hipparcos and Nano-JASMINE

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Michalik, D.; Lindegren, L.; Hobbs, D.; Lammers, U.; Yamada, Y.

    2012-09-01

    The Hipparcos mission (1989-1993) resulted in the first space-based stellar catalogue including measurements of positions, parallaxes and annual proper motions accurate to about one milli-arcsecond. More space astrometry missions will follow in the near future. The ultra-small Japanese mission Nano-JASMINE (launch in late 2013) will determine positions and annual proper motions with some milli-arcsecond accuracy. In mid 2013 the next-generation ESA mission Gaia will deliver some tens of micro-arcsecond accurate astrometric parameters. Until the final Gaia catalogue is published in early 2020 the best way of improving proper motion values is the combination of positions from different missions separated by long time intervals. Rather than comparing positions from separately reduced catalogues, we propose an optimal method to combine the information from the different data sets by making a joint astrometric solution. This allows to obtain good results even when each data set alone is insufficient for an accurate reduction. We demonstrate our method by combining Hipparcos and simulated Nano-JASMINE data in a joint solution. We show a significant improvement over the conventional catalogue combination.

  3. The Absolute Proper Motion of NGC 6397 Revisited

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rees, Richard; Cudworth, Kyle

    2018-01-01

    We compare several determinations of the absolute proper motion of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6397: (1) our own determination relative to field stars derived from scans of 38 photographic plates spanning 97 years in epoch; (2) using our proper motion membership to identify cluster stars in various catalogs in the literature (UCAC4, UCAC5, PPMXL, HSOY, Tycho-2, Hipparcos, TGAS); (3) published results from the Yale SPM Program (both tied to Hipparcos and relative to galaxies) and two from HST observations relative to galaxies. The various determinations are not in good agreement. Curiously, the Yale SPM relative to galaxies does not agree with the HST determinations, and the individual HST error ellipses are close to each other but do not overlap. The Yale SPM relative to galaxies does agree with our determination, Tycho-2, and the Yale SPM tied to Hipparcos. It is not clear which of the current determinations is most reliable; we have found evidence of systematic errors in some of them (including one of the HST determinations). This research has been partially supported by the NSF.

  4. VizieR Online Data Catalog: WD+dMs from the SUPERBLINK proper motion survey (Skinner+, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Skinner, J. N.; Morgan, D. P.; West, A. A.; Lepine, S.; Thorstensen, J. R.

    2018-06-01

    To select for nearby WD+dMs, we used the SUPERBLINK proper motion survey (Lepine et al. 2002, J/AJ/124/1190; Lepine & Shara 2005, Cat. I/298), an ongoing all-sky survey that identifies and characterizes stars with proper motions μ>40 mas/yr. For this study, we used the 2011 July version of SUPERBLINK, which listed 2270481 stars, and was estimated to be >90% complete to V=19.0. We selected WD+dMs based on a combination of V magnitudes derived from the DSS plates (see Lepine & Shara 2005, Cat. I/298), near-UV magnitudes from GALEX, and Ks magnitudes from 2MASS. Using the UV-optical-IR color selection outlined in Skinner et al. (2014AJ....148..115S), we selected targets for spectroscopic follow-up (see bottom panel of Figure 1). We acquired optical spectroscopy of 178 newly identified WD+dM candidates, with the Boller and Chivens CCD spectrograph (CCDS), using both the Hiltner 2.4 m and McGraw-Hill 1.3 m telescopes located at the MDM Observatory. (3 data files).

  5. A deep proper motion catalog within the Sloan digital sky survey footprint

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Munn, Jeffrey A.; Harris, Hugh C.; Tilleman, Trudy M.

    2014-12-01

    A new proper motion catalog is presented, combining the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) with second epoch observations in the r band within a portion of the SDSS imaging footprint. The new observations were obtained with the 90prime camera on the Steward Observatory Bok 90 inch telescope, and the Array Camera on the U.S. Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station, 1.3 m telescope. The catalog covers 1098 square degrees to r = 22.0, an additional 1521 square degrees to r = 20.9, plus a further 488 square degrees of lesser quality data. Statistical errors in the proper motions range from 5 masmore » year{sup −1} at the bright end to 15 mas year{sup −1} at the faint end, for a typical epoch difference of six years. Systematic errors are estimated to be roughly 1 mas year{sup −1} for the Array Camera data, and as much as 2–4 mas year{sup −1} for the 90prime data (though typically less). The catalog also includes a second epoch of r band photometry.« less

  6. Study of a New CPM Pair 2Mass 14515781-1619034

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Falcon, Israel Tejera

    2013-04-01

    In this paper I present the results of a study of 2Mass 14515781-1619034 as components of a common proper motion pair. Because PPMXL catalog's proper motion data not provide any information about secondary star, I deduced it independently, obtaining similar proper motions for both components. Halbwalchs' criteria indicates that this is a CPM ystem. The criterion of Francisco Rica, which is based on the compatibility of the kinematic function of the equatorial coordinates, indicates that this pair has a 99% probability of being a physical one (Rica, 2007). Also other important criteria (Dommanget, 1956, Peter Van De Kamp, 1961, Sinachopoulus, 1992, Close, 2003), indicate a physical system. With the absolute visual magnitude of both components, I obtained distance modulus 7.29 and 7.59, which put the components of the system at a distance of 287.1 and 329.6 parsecs. Taking into account errors in determining the magnitudes, this means that the probability that both components are situated at the same distance is 96%. I suggest that this pair be included in the WDS catalog.

  7. THE TIME EVOLUTION OF HH 1 FROM FOUR EPOCHS OF HST IMAGES

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Raga, A. C.; Esquivel, A.; Reipurth, B.

    We present an analysis of four epochs of Hα and [S ii] λλ 6716/6731 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of HH 1. For determining proper motions, we explore a new method based on the analysis of spatially degraded images obtained convolving the images with wavelet functions of chosen widths. With this procedure, we are able to generate maps of proper motion velocities along and across the outflow axis, as well as (angularly integrated) proper motion velocity distributions. From the four available epochs, we find the time evolution of the velocities, intensities, and spatial distribution of the line emission. We find that overmore » the last two decades HH 1 shows a clear acceleration. Also, the Hα and [S ii] intensities first dropped and then recovered in the more recent (2014) images. Finally, we show a comparison between the two available HST epochs of [O iii] λ 5007 (1994 and 2014), in which we see a clear drop in the value of the [O iii]/Hα ratio.« less

  8. Analyzing the Proper Motion of Two Double Star Systems from Astrometric Measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Falatoun, Alex; Barrera, Janet; de Neef, Anna; Gonzalez, Aura; Calanog, Jae; Boyce, Pat; Boyce, Grady

    2018-04-01

    The iTelescope network was used to obtain astrometric measurements of double star systems WDS 12202-1408 (STF 1631) and WDS 12339+5522 (STI 2286). Through astrometric measurement softwares SAOImage DS9 and Mira Pro x64, a mean position angle for STF 1631 of 304.8° ± 0.9° and a mean separation 14.7" ± 0.2" was measured. For STI 2286, a newly measured mean position angle of 85.9° ± 0.9° and mean separation 11.5" ± 0.3" were obtained. The relative proper motion of 1631 shows that the system could be demonstrating a linear path or an approximately circular orbit with a period of 1400 years. Parallax measurements of the secondary star will aid in classifying if this system is a physical or a visual pair. The proper motion of STI 2286 indicates that it could be a physical pair, featuring an orbit nearing a turning point. Follow-up observations in three to four year intervals will further validate or refute this claim and constrain the shape of a possible orbit.

  9. Children Learning to Explain Daily Celestial Motion: Understanding Astronomy across Moving Frames of Reference

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Plummer, Julia D.; Wasko, Kyle D.; Slagle, Cynthia

    2011-01-01

    This study investigated elementary students' explanations for the daily patterns of apparent motion of the Sun, Moon, and stars. Third-grade students were chosen for this study because this age level is at the lower end of when many US standards documents suggest students should learn to use the Earth's rotation to explain daily celestial motion.…

  10. Hoph Bifurcation in Viscous, Low Speed Flows About an Airfoil with Structural Coupling

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-03-01

    8 2.1 Equations of Motion ...... ..................... 8 2.2 Coordinate Transformation ....................... 13 2.3 Aerodynamic...a-frame) f - Apparent body forces applied in noninertial system fL - Explicit fourth-order numerical damping term Ai - Implicit fourth-order...resulting airfoil motion . The equations describing the airfoil motion are integrated in time using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm. The

  11. Brownian motion from Boltzmann's equation.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Montgomery, D.

    1971-01-01

    Two apparently disparate lines of inquiry in kinetic theory are shown to be equivalent: (1) Brownian motion as treated by the (stochastic) Langevin equation and Fokker-Planck equation; and (2) Boltzmann's equation. The method is to derive the kinetic equation for Brownian motion from the Boltzmann equation for a two-component neutral gas by a simultaneous expansion in the density and mass ratios.

  12. Magnetowetting and sliding motion of a sessile ferrofluid droplet in the presence of a permanent magnet.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Nam-Trung; Zhu, Guiping; Chua, Yong-Chin; Phan, Vinh-Nguyen; Tan, Say-Hwa

    2010-08-03

    Motion of a droplet on a planar surface has applications in droplet-based lab on a chip technology. This paper reports the experimental results of the shape, contact angles, and motion of ferrofluid droplets driven by a permanent magnet on a planar homogeneous surface. The water-based ferrofluid in use is a colloidal suspension of single-domain magnetic nanoparticles. The effect of the magnetic field on the apparent contact angle of the ferrofluid droplet was first investigated. The results show that an increasing magnetic flux decreases the apparent contact angle of a sessile ferrofluid droplet. Next, the dynamic contact angle was investigated by observing the shape and the motion of a sessile ferrofluid droplet. The advancing and receding contact angles of the moving ferrofluid were measured at different moving speeds and magnetic field strengths. The measured contact angles were used to estimate the magnitude of the forces involved in the sliding motion. Scaling analysis was carried out to derive the critical velocity, beyond which the droplet is not able to catch up with the moving magnet.

  13. Characterization of the Praesepe Star Cluster by Photometry and Proper Motions With 2MASS, PPMXL, and Pan-STARRS

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-03-20

    reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PRAESEPE STAR CLUSTER BY PHOTOMETRY AND PROPER MOTIONS WITH 2MASS , PPMXL, AND Pan-STARRS P. F. Wang1... 2MASS ) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data, covering a sky area of 100 deg2, Adams et al. (2002) extended the lower main sequence to 0.1M, and...incompleteness is caused by the detection limits of USNO-B1 and 2MASS . Recently, Khalaj & Baumgardt (2013) used SDSS and PPMXL data to characterize

  14. VizieR Online Data Catalog: PMA Catalogue (Akhmetov+, 2017)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Akhmetov, V. S.; Fedorov, P. N.; Velichko, A. B.; Shulga, V. M.

    2017-06-01

    The idea for creating the catalogue is very simple. The PMA catalogue has been derived from a combination of two catalogues, namely 2MASS and Gaia DR1. The difference of epochs of observations for these catalogues is approximately 15 yr. The positions of objects in the Gaia DR1 catalogue are referred to the reference frame, which is consistent with ICRF to better than 0.1 mas for the J2015.0 epoch. The positions of objects in 2MASS are referred to HCRF, which, as was shown in Kovalevsky et al. (1997A&A...323..620K), is aligned with the ICRF to within ±0.6 mas at the epoch 1991.25 and is non-rotating with respect to distant extragalactic objects to within ±0.25mas/yr. By comparing the positions of the common objects contained in the catalogues, it is possible to determine their proper motions within their common range of stellar magnitudes by dividing differences of positions over the time interval between their observations. Formally, proper motions derived in such a way are given in the ICRF system, because the positions of both Gaia DR1 stars and those of 2MASS objects (through Hipparcos/Tycho-2 stars) are given in the ICRF and cover the whole sphere without gaps. We designate them further in this paper as relative, with the aim of discriminating them from absolute ones, which refer to the reference frame defined by the positions of about 1.6 million galaxies from Gaia DR1. There is no possibility of obtaining estimates of individual errors of proper motions of stars for the PMA Catalogue from the intrinsic convergence, because the direct errors for positions are not indicated in 2MASS. Therefore we use some indirect methods to obtain the estimates of uncertainties for proper motions. After elimination of the systematic errors, the root-mean-squared deviation of the coordinate differences of extended sources is about 200mas, and the mean number of galaxies inside each pixel is about 1300, so we expect the error of the absolute calibration to be 0.35mas/yr. We compared the proper motions of common objects from PMA and from the TGAS and UCAC4 catalogues. Knowing the mean-square errors of (PMA-TGAS) and (PMA-UCAC4) proper motion differences in each pixel, the appropriate errors in PMA vary from 2 to 10mas/yr, depending on magnitude, which are consistent with the errors calculated above. In case of any problems or questions, please contact by e-mail V.S. Akhmetov (akhmetovvs(at)gmail.com or akhmetov(at)astron.kharkov.ua). (1 data file).

  15. Ages of the Bulge Globular Clusters NGC 6522 and NGC 6626 (M28) from HST Proper-motion-cleaned Color–Magnitude Diagrams

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kerber, L. O.; Nardiello, D.; Ortolani, S.; Barbuy, B.; Bica, E.; Cassisi, S.; Libralato, M.; Vieira, R. G.

    2018-01-01

    Bulge globular clusters (GCs) with metallicities [Fe/H] ≲ ‑1.0 and blue horizontal branches are candidates to harbor the oldest populations in the Galaxy. Based on the analysis of HST proper-motion-cleaned color–magnitude diagrams in filters F435W and F625W, we determine physical parameters for the old bulge GCs NGC 6522 and NGC 6626 (M28), both with well-defined blue horizontal branches. We compare these results with similar data for the inner halo cluster NGC 6362. These clusters have similar metallicities (‑1.3 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ ‑1.0) obtained from high-resolution spectroscopy. We derive ages, distance moduli, and reddening values by means of statistical comparisons between observed and synthetic fiducial lines employing likelihood statistics and the Markov chain Monte Carlo method. The synthetic fiducial lines were generated using α-enhanced BaSTI and Dartmouth stellar evolutionary models, adopting both canonical (Y ∼ 0.25) and enhanced (Y ∼ 0.30–0.33) helium abundances. RR Lyrae stars were employed to determine the HB magnitude level, providing an independent indicator to constrain the apparent distance modulus and the helium enhancement. The shape of the observed fiducial line could be compatible with some helium enhancement for NGC 6522 and NGC 6626, but the average magnitudes of RR Lyrae stars tend to rule out this hypothesis. Assuming canonical helium abundances, BaSTI and Dartmouth models indicate that all three clusters are coeval, with ages between ∼12.5 and 13.0 Gyr. The present study also reveals that NGC 6522 has at least two stellar populations, since its CMD shows a significantly wide subgiant branch compatible with 14% ± 2% and 86% ± 5% for first and second generations, respectively. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute.

  16. On the possibility of ground-based direct imaging detection of extra-solar planets: the case of TWA-7

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Neuhäuser, R.; Brandner, W.; Eckart, A.; Guenther, E.; Alves, J.; Ott, T.; Huélamo, N.; Fernández, M.

    2000-02-01

    We show that ground-based direct imaging detection of extra-solar planets is possible with current technology. As an example, we present evidence for a possible planetary companion to the young T Tauri star 1RXSJ104230.3-334014 (=TWA-7), discovered by ROSAT as a member of the nearby TW Hya association. In an HST NICMOS F160W image, an object is detected that is more than 9 mag fainter than TWA-7, located 2.445 +/- 0.035'' south-east at a position angle of 142.24 +/- 1.34deg. One year later using the ESO-NTT with the SHARP speckle camera, we obtained H- and K-band detections of this faint object at a separation of 2.536 +/- 0.077'' and a position angle of 139.3 +/- 2.1deg. Given the known proper motion of TWA-7, the pair may form a proper motion pair. If the faint object orbits TWA-7, then its apparent magnitudes of H=16.42 +/- 0.11 and K=16.34 +/- 0.15 mag yield absolute magnitudes consistent with a ~ 106.5 yr old ~ 3 M_jup mass object according to the non-gray theory by Burrows et al. (1997). At ~ 55 pc, the angular separation of ~ 2.5'' corresponds to ~ 138 AU, clearly within typical disk sizes. However, position angles and separations are slightly more consistent with a background object than with a companion. Based on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla (ESO Proposals 62.I-0418 and 63.N-0178), and on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Science Institute. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under the NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

  17. Secular Acceleration of Barnard's Star

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bartlett, Jennifer L.; Ianna, P. A.

    2009-01-01

    Barnard's Star should have significant secular acceleration because it lies close to the Sun and has the highest known proper motion along with a large radial velocity. It will pass within about 1.4 pc in another 9,750 years. Secular changes in proper motion and radial velocity are essentially the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations, respectively, arising from use of a rotating coordinate system defined by the Sun-star radius vector. Although stellar space velocities measured with respect to the Sun are essentially constant, these perspective effects arise with changing distance and viewing angle. Hipparcos-2 plus Nidever et al. (2002) predict a perspective change in the proper motion of 1.285±0.006 mas yr-2 for Barnard's Star. Recent analysis of 900+ photographic plates between 1968 and 1998 with the 26.25-in (0.67-m) McCormick refractor detected a secular acceleration of 1.25±0.04 mas yr-2, which agrees with the predicted value within the measurement errors. Earlier, Benedict et al. (1999) measured its secular acceleration to be 1.2±0.2 mas yr-2 using 3 years of HST FGS observations. Similarly, a perspective change in radial velocity of 4.50±0.01 m s-1 yr-1 can be predicted for Barnard's Star. Kürster et al. (2003) detected variations in their observations of it that are largely attributable to secular acceleration along the line of sight with some contribution from stellar activity. Although secular acceleration effects have been limited for past studies of stellar motions, they can be significant for observations extending over decades or for high-precision measurements required to detect extrasolar planets. Future studies will need to consider this factor for the nearest stars and for those with large proper motions or radial velocities. NSF grant AST 98-20711; Litton Marine Systems; Peninsula Community Foundation Levinson Fund; UVa Governor's Fellowship, Dean's F&A Fellowship, and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; and, US Naval Observatory supported this research.

  18. 12 CFR 1081.212 - Dispositive motions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... as to which official notice may be taken, and any other evidentiary materials properly submitted in... stated therein, and must be signed under oath and penalty of perjury. (e) Page limitations for... motion (exclusive of any declarations, affidavits, or attachments) shall not exceed 35 pages in length...

  19. 12 CFR 1081.212 - Dispositive motions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... as to which official notice may be taken, and any other evidentiary materials properly submitted in... stated therein, and must be signed under oath and penalty of perjury. (e) Page limitations for... motion (exclusive of any declarations, affidavits, or attachments) shall not exceed 35 pages in length...

  20. 12 CFR 1081.212 - Dispositive motions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... as to which official notice may be taken, and any other evidentiary materials properly submitted in... stated therein, and must be signed under oath and penalty of perjury. (e) Page limitations for... motion (exclusive of any declarations, affidavits, or attachments) shall not exceed 35 pages in length...

  1. Wide Binaries in TGAS: Search Method and First Results

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Andrews, Jeff J.; Chanamé, Julio; Agüeros, Marcel A.

    2018-04-01

    Half of all stars reside in binary systems, many of which have orbital separations in excess of 1000 AU. Such binaries are typically identified in astrometric catalogs by matching the proper motions vectors of close stellar pairs. We present a fully Bayesian method that properly takes into account positions, proper motions, parallaxes, and their correlated uncertainties to identify widely separated stellar binaries. After applying our method to the >2 × 106 stars in the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution from Gaia DR1, we identify over 6000 candidate wide binaries. For those pairs with separations less than 40,000 AU, we determine the contamination rate to be ~5%. This sample has an orbital separation (a) distribution that is roughly flat in log space for separations less than ~5000 AU and follows a power law of a -1.6 at larger separations.

  2. System III variations in apparent distance of Io plasma torus from Jupiter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dessler, A. J.; Sandel, B. R.

    1992-01-01

    System III variations in apparent distance of the Io plasma torus from Jupiter are examined on the basis of data obtained from UVS scans across Jupiter's satellite system. The displacement of the dawn and dusk ansae are found to be unexpectedly complex. The displacements are unequal and both ansae are in motion with the motion of the approaching ansa being the lesser of the two. The radial motions, as measured from either the center of Jupiter or the offset-tilted dipole, are of unequal magnitude and have the System III periodicity. It is concluded that the cross-tail electric field that causes these torus motions is concentrated on the dusk ansa, varied with the System III period, and shows magnetic-anomaly phase control. It is found that the dawn-dust asymmetry in brightness is not explained simply by the cross-tail electric field. It is concluded that there is a heating mechanism that causes the dusk side of the Io plasma torus to be brighter than the dawn side.

  3. Two Solar Tornadoes Observed with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Zihao; Tian, Hui; Peter, Hardi; Su, Yang; Samanta, Tanmoy; Zhang, Jingwen; Chen, Yajie

    2018-01-01

    The barbs or legs of some prominences show an apparent motion of rotation, which are often termed solar tornadoes. It is under debate whether the apparent motion is a real rotating motion, or caused by oscillations or counter-streaming flows. We present analysis results from spectroscopic observations of two tornadoes by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. Each tornado was observed for more than 2.5 hr. Doppler velocities are derived through a single Gaussian fit to the Mg II k 2796 Å and Si IV 1393 Å line profiles. We find coherent and stable redshifts and blueshifts adjacent to each other across the tornado axes, which appears to favor the interpretation of these tornadoes as rotating cool plasmas with temperatures of 104 K–105 K. This interpretation is further supported by simultaneous observations of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, which reveal periodic motions of dark structures in the tornadoes. Our results demonstrate that spectroscopic observations can provide key information to disentangle different physical processes in solar prominences.

  4. Analogies between the Torque-Free Motion of a Rigid Body about a Fixed Point and Light Propagation in Anisotropic Media

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bellver-Cebreros, Consuelo; Rodriguez-Danta, Marcelo

    2009-01-01

    An apparently unnoticed analogy between the torque-free motion of a rotating rigid body about a fixed point and the propagation of light in anisotropic media is stated. First, a new plane construction for visualizing this torque-free motion is proposed. This method uses an intrinsic representation alternative to angular momentum and independent of…

  5. Laboratory and Space Measurements of the Effects of Gravity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cruise, A.; Murdin, P.

    2000-11-01

    Early philosophers such as Aristotle tried to describe the motion of bodies in the Earth's vicinity with concepts that confused the topics of dynamics (the motion of a body under any external force) with the nature of the force (gravitation) itself. The teaching that followed this doctrine lasted until the mid 1600s when difficulties were becoming apparent in explaining, for example, the motion o...

  6. The Solar Neighborhood. XLII. Parallax Results from the CTIOPI 0.9 m Program—Identifying New Nearby Subdwarfs Using Tangential Velocities and Locations on the H–R Diagram

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jao, Wei-Chun; Henry, Todd J.; Winters, Jennifer G.; Subasavage, John P.; Riedel, Adric R.; Silverstein, Michele L.; Ianna, Philip A.

    2017-11-01

    Parallaxes, proper motions, and optical photometry are presented for 51 systems consisting of 37 cool subdwarf and 14 additional high proper motion systems. Thirty-seven systems have parallaxes reported for the first time, 15 of which have proper motions of at least 1″ yr‑1. The sample includes 22 newly identified cool subdwarfs within 100 pc, of which three are within 25 pc, and an additional five subdwarfs from 100 to 160 pc. Two systems—LSR 1610-0040 AB and LHS 440 AB—are close binaries exhibiting clear astrometric perturbations that will ultimately provide important masses for cool subdwarfs. We use the accurate parallaxes and proper motions provided here, combined with additional data from our program and others, to determine that effectively all nearby stars with tangential velocities greater than 200 km s‑1 are subdwarfs. We compare a sample of 167 confirmed cool subdwarfs to nearby main sequence dwarfs and Pleiades members on an observational Hertzsprung–Russell diagram using M V versus (V ‑ K s ) to map trends of age and metallicity. We find that subdwarfs are clearly separated for spectral types K5–M5, indicating that the low metallicities of subdwarfs set them apart in the H–R diagram for (V ‑ K s ) = 3–6. We then apply the tangential velocity cutoff and the subdwarf region of the H–R diagram to stars with parallaxes from Gaia Data Release 1 and the MEarth Project to identify a total of 29 new nearby subdwarf candidates that fall clearly below the main sequence.

  7. An application of Galactic parallax: the distance to the tidal stream GD-1

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eyre, Andy

    2010-04-01

    We assess the practicality of computing the distance to stellar streams in our Galaxy, using the method of Galactic parallax suggested by Eyre & Binney. We find that the uncertainty in Galactic parallax is dependent upon the specific geometry of the problem in question. In the case of the tidal stream GD-1, the problem geometry indicates that available proper-motion data, with individual accuracy ~4masyr-1, should allow estimation of its distance with about 50 per cent uncertainty. Proper motions accurate to ~1masyr-1, which are expected from the forthcoming Pan-STARRS PS-1 survey, will allow estimation of its distance to about 10 per cent uncertainty. Proper motions from the future Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) and Gaia projects will be more accurate still, and will allow the parallax for a stream 30 kpc distant to be measured with ~14 per cent uncertainty. We demonstrate the feasibility of the method and show that our uncertainty estimates are accurate by computing Galactic parallax using simulated data for the GD-1 stream. We also apply the method to actual data for the GD-1 stream, published by Koposov, Rix & Hogg. With the exception of one datum, the distances estimated using Galactic parallax match photometric estimates with less than 1 kpc discrepancy. The scatter in the distances recovered using Galactic parallax is very low, suggesting that the proper-motion uncertainty reported by Koposov et al. is in fact overestimated. We conclude that the GD-1 stream is (8 +/- 1)kpc distant, on a retrograde orbit inclined 37° to the plane, and that the visible portion of the stream is likely to be near pericentre.

  8. THE EFFECT OF UNRESOLVED BINARIES ON GLOBULAR CLUSTER PROPER-MOTION DISPERSION PROFILES

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bianchini, P.; Norris, M. A.; Ven, G. van de

    2016-03-20

    High-precision kinematic studies of globular clusters (GCs) require an accurate knowledge of all possible sources of contamination. Among other sources, binary stars can introduce systematic biases in the kinematics. Using a set of Monte Carlo cluster simulations with different concentrations and binary fractions, we investigate the effect of unresolved binaries on proper-motion dispersion profiles, treating the simulations like Hubble Space Telescope proper-motion samples. Since GCs evolve toward a state of partial energy equipartition, more-massive stars lose energy and decrease their velocity dispersion. As a consequence, on average, binaries have a lower velocity dispersion, since they are more-massive kinematic tracers. Wemore » show that, in the case of clusters with high binary fractions (initial binary fractions of 50%) and high concentrations (i.e., closer to energy equipartition), unresolved binaries introduce a color-dependent bias in the velocity dispersion of main-sequence stars of the order of 0.1–0.3 km s{sup −1} (corresponding to 1%−6% of the velocity dispersion), with the reddest stars having a lower velocity dispersion, due to the higher fraction of contaminating binaries. This bias depends on the ability to distinguish binaries from single stars, on the details of the color–magnitude diagram and the photometric errors. We apply our analysis to the HSTPROMO data set of NGC 7078 (M15) and show that no effect ascribable to binaries is observed, consistent with the low binary fraction of the cluster. Our work indicates that binaries do not significantly bias proper-motion velocity-dispersion profiles, but should be taken into account in the error budget of kinematic analyses.« less

  9. The AC 2000.2 Catalogue

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Urban, S. E.; Corbin, T. E.; Wycoff, G. L.; Makarov, V. V.; Høg, E.; Fabricius, C.

    2001-12-01

    For over 100 years, the international project known as the Astrographic Catalogue -- which involved 20 observatories tasked to photograph the sky -- has held an unfulfilled promised of yielding a wealth of astrometric information. This promise was not realized due to the inadequate reductions of the project's plates. However, in 1997 the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) completed the reductions of the 22,660 plates. That catalogue, named the AC 2000, contained positions and magnitudes for 4.6 million stars down to about v magnitude 12.5. Due to the early epochs of the data -- averaging 1907 -- and the positional accuracies -- between 150 and 400 milliarcseconds -- the data are extremely valuable in computing proper motions. In 1997, these positions were used to form the proper motions of the ACT Reference Catalogue. In 1999, USNO and Copenhagen University Observatory (CUO) partnered to create the Tycho-2 Catalogue. The CUO group re-analyzed the data from the Tycho experiment on the Hipparcos satellite. The USNO group re-analyzed over 140 positional catalogs which were combined with the expanded Tycho positions from the CUO group to compute the Tycho-2 proper motions. The largest contributor to these proper motions was the re-analyzed Astrographic Catalogue; the latest version being known as the AC 2000.2 Catalogue. There are two major differences between the AC 2000 and the AC 2000.2. First, the reference catalog used in AC 2000.2 was an expanded version of the Astrographic Catalogue Reference Stars that was rigorously derived on the Hipparcos Celestial Reference Frame. The second is that AC 2000.2 contains photometry from Tycho-2, where available. A description of the AC 2000.2 Catalogue, the reduction techniques used, how it compares with the 1997 version, and information on obtaining the data will be presented.

  10. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Overlooked wide companions of nearby F stars (Scholz, 2016)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scholz, R.-D.

    2016-02-01

    We checked a sample of 545 F stars within 50pc for wide companions using existing near-infrared and optical sky surveys. Applying the common proper motion (CPM) criterion, we detected wide companion candidates with 6-120arcsec angular separations by visual inspection of multi-epoch finder charts and by searching in proper motion catalogues. Final proper motions were measured by involving positional measurements from up to eleven surveys. Spectral types of red CPM companions were estimated from their absolute J-band magnitudes based on the Hipparcos distances of the primaries. In addition to about 100 known CPM objects, we found 19 new CPM companions and confirmed 31 previously known candidates. A few CPM objects are still considered as candidates according to their level of proper motion agreement. Among the new objects there are nine M0-M4, eight M5-M6, one ~L3.5 dwarf (HD 3861B), and one white dwarf (WD) (HD 2726B), whereas we confirmed two K, 19 M0-M4, six M5-M6, two early-L dwarfs, and two DA WDs as CPM companions. In a few cases, previous spectral types were available that all agree well with our estimates. Two companions (HD 22879B and HD 49933B) are associated with moderately metal-poor Gaia benchmark stars. One doubtful CPM companion, spectroscopically classified as WD but found to be very bright (J=11.1) by others, should either be a very nearby foreground WD or a different kind of object associated with HD 165670. The main results of this research note, data on new, confirmed, and rejected CPM pairs, are listed in tablea1.dat, tableb1.dat, and tablec1.dat, respectively. (4 data files).

  11. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Henderson, C. B.; Gould, A.; Gaudi, B. S.

    The mass of the lenses giving rise to Galactic microlensing events can be constrained by measuring the relative lens-source proper motion and lens flux. The flux of the lens can be separated from that of the source, companions to the source, and unrelated nearby stars with high-resolution images taken when the lens and source are spatially resolved. For typical ground-based adaptive optics (AO) or space-based observations, this requires either inordinately long time baselines or high relative proper motions. We provide a list of microlensing events toward the Galactic bulge with high relative lens-source proper motion that are therefore good candidatesmore » for constraining the lens mass with future high-resolution imaging. We investigate all events from 2004 to 2013 that display detectable finite-source effects, a feature that allows us to measure the proper motion. In total, we present 20 events with μ ≳ 8 mas yr{sup –1}. Of these, 14 were culled from previous analyses while 6 are new, including OGLE-2004-BLG-368, MOA-2005-BLG-36, OGLE-2012-BLG-0211, OGLE-2012-BLG-0456, MOA-2012-BLG-532, and MOA-2013-BLG-029. In ≲12 yr from the time of each event the lens and source of each event will be sufficiently separated for ground-based telescopes with AO systems or space telescopes to resolve each component and further characterize the lens system. Furthermore, for the most recent events, comparison of the lens flux estimates from images taken immediately to those estimated from images taken when the lens and source are resolved can be used to empirically check the robustness of the single-epoch method currently being used to estimate lens masses for many events.« less

  12. Activity and Kinematics of White Dwarf-M Dwarf Binaries from the SUPERBLINK Proper Motion Survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Skinner, Julie N.; Morgan, Dylan P.; West, Andrew A.; Lépine, Sébastien; Thorstensen, John R.

    2017-09-01

    We present an activity and kinematic analysis of high proper motion white dwarf-M dwarf binaries (WD+dMs) found in the SUPERBLINK survey, 178 of which are new identifications. To identify WD+dMs, we developed a UV-optical-IR color criterion and conducted a spectroscopic survey to confirm each candidate binary. For the newly identified systems, we fit the two components using model white dwarf spectra and M dwarf template spectra to determine physical parameters. We use Hα chromospheric emission to examine the magnetic activity of the M dwarf in each system, and investigate how its activity is affected by the presence of a white dwarf companion. We find that the fraction of WD+dM binaries with active M dwarfs is significantly higher than their single M dwarf counterparts at early and mid-spectral types. We corroborate previous studies that find high activity fractions at both close and intermediate separations. At more distant separations, the binary fraction appears to approach the activity fraction for single M dwarfs. Using derived radial velocities and the proper motions, we calculate 3D space velocities for the WD+dMs in SUPERBLINK. For the entire SUPERBLINK WD+dMs, we find a large vertical velocity dispersion, indicating a dynamically hotter population compared to high proper motion samples of single M dwarfs. We compare the kinematics for systems with active M dwarfs and those with inactive M dwarfs, and find signatures of asymmetric drift in the inactive sample, indicating that they are drawn from an older population. Based on observations obtained at the MDM Observatory operated by Dartmouth College, Columbia University, The Ohio State University, and the University of Michigan.

  13. Very Low-mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in Upper Scorpius Using Gaia DR1: Mass Function, Disks, and Kinematics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cook, Neil J.; Scholz, Aleks; Jayawardhana, Ray

    2017-12-01

    Our understanding of the brown dwarf population in star-forming regions is dependent on knowing distances and proper motions and therefore will be improved through the Gaia space mission. In this paper, we select new samples of very low-mass objects (VLMOs) in Upper Scorpius using UKIDSS colors and optimized proper motions calculated using Gaia DR1. The scatter in proper motions from VLMOs in Upper Scorpius is now (for the first time) dominated by the kinematic spread of the region itself, not by the positional uncertainties. With age and mass estimates updated using Gaia parallaxes for early-type stars in the same region, we determine masses for all VLMOs. Our final most complete sample includes 453 VLMOs of which ˜125 are expected to be brown dwarfs. The cleanest sample is comprised of 131 VLMOs, with ˜105 brown dwarfs. We also compile a joint sample from the literature that includes 415 VLMOs, out of which 152 are likely brown dwarfs. The disk fraction among low-mass brown dwarfs (M< 0.05 {M}⊙ ) is substantially higher than in more massive objects, indicating that disks around low-mass brown dwarfs survive longer than in low-mass stars overall. The mass function for 0.01< M< 0.1 {M}⊙ is consistent with the Kroupa Initial Mass Function. We investigate the possibility that some “proper motion outliers” have undergone a dynamical ejection early in their evolution. Our analysis shows that the color-magnitude cuts used when selecting samples introduce strong bias into the population statistics due to varying levels of contamination and completeness.

  14. Sherrington's Model of Successive Induction for Comparative Analysis of Zebrafish Motor Response

    EPA Science Inventory

    The responses in motor activity of zebrafish to sudden changes in lighting conditions may be modeled by Sherrington’s model of successive induction. Fish left in the dark exhibit very little motion, when exposed to light zebrafish motion increases towards an apparent horizo...

  15. Galactic googly: the rotation-metallicity bias in the inner stellar halo of the Milky Way

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kafle, Prajwal R.; Sharma, Sanjib; Robotham, Aaron S. G.; Pradhan, Raj K.; Guglielmo, Magda; Davies, Luke J. M.; Driver, Simon P.

    2017-09-01

    The first and second moments of stellar velocities encode important information about the formation history of the Galactic halo. However, due to the lack of tangential motion and inaccurate distances of the halo stars, the velocity moments in the Galactic halo have largely remained 'known unknowns'. Fortunately, our off-centric position within the Galaxy allows us to estimate these moments in the galactocentric frame using the observed radial velocities of the stars alone. We use these velocities coupled with the hierarchical Bayesian scheme, which allows easy marginalization over the missing data (the proper motion, and uncertainty-free distance and line-of-sight velocity), to measure the velocity dispersions, orbital anisotropy (β) and streaming motion (vrot) of the halo main-sequence turn-off (MSTO) and K-giant (KG) stars in the inner stellar halo (r ≲ 15 kpc). We study the metallicity bias in kinematics of the halo stars and observe that the comparatively metal-rich ([Fe/H] > -1.4) and the metal-poor ([Fe/H] ≤ -1.4) MSTO samples show a clear systematic difference in vrot ˜ 20-40 km s - 1, depending on how restrictive the spatial cuts to cull the disc contamination are. The bias is also detected in KG samples but with less certainty. Both MSTO and KG populations suggest that the inner stellar halo of the Galaxy is radially biased I.e. σr > σθ or σϕ and β ≃ 0.5. The apparent metallicity contrariety in the rotation velocity among the halo sub-populations supports the co-existence of multiple populations in the galactic halo that may have formed through distinct formation scenarios, I.e. in situ versus accretion.

  16. Lack of early pattern stimulation prevents normal development of the alpha (Y) retinal ganglion cell population in the cat.

    PubMed

    Burnat, Kalina; Van Der Gucht, Estelle; Waleszczyk, Wioletta J; Kossut, Malgorzata; Arckens, Lutgarde

    2012-08-01

    Binocular deprivation of pattern vision (BD) early in life permanently impairs global motion perception. With the SMI-32 antibody against neurofilament protein (NFP) as a marker of the motion-sensitive Y-cell pathway (Van der Gucht et al. [2001] Cereb. Cortex 17:2805-2819), we analyzed the impact of early BD on the retinal circuitry in adult, perceptually characterized cats (Burnat et al. [2005] Neuroreport 16:751-754). In controls, large retinal ganglion cells exhibited a strong NFP signal in the soma and in the proximal parts of the dendritic arbors. The NFP-immunoreactive dendrites typically branched into sublamina a of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), i.e., the OFF inner plexiform sublamina. In the retina of adult BD cats, however, most of the NFP-immunoreactive ganglion cell dendrites branched throughout the entire IPL. The NFP-immunoreactive cell bodies were less regularly distributed, often appeared in pairs, and had a significantly larger diameter compared with NFP-expressing cells in control retinas. These remarkable differences in the immunoreactivity pattern were typically observed in temporal retina. In conclusion, we show that the anatomical organization typical of premature Y-type retinal ganglion cells persists into adulthood even if normal visual experience follows for years upon an initial 6-month period of BD. Binocular pattern deprivation possibly induces a lifelong OFF functional domination, normally apparent only during development, putting early high-quality vision forward as a premise for proper ON-OFF pathway segregation. These new observations for pattern-deprived animals provide an anatomical basis for the well-described motion perception deficits in congenital cataract patients. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Anomalous versus Slowed-Down Brownian Diffusion in the Ligand-Binding Equilibrium

    PubMed Central

    Soula, Hédi; Caré, Bertrand; Beslon, Guillaume; Berry, Hugues

    2013-01-01

    Measurements of protein motion in living cells and membranes consistently report transient anomalous diffusion (subdiffusion) that converges back to a Brownian motion with reduced diffusion coefficient at long times after the anomalous diffusion regime. Therefore, slowed-down Brownian motion could be considered the macroscopic limit of transient anomalous diffusion. On the other hand, membranes are also heterogeneous media in which Brownian motion may be locally slowed down due to variations in lipid composition. Here, we investigate whether both situations lead to a similar behavior for the reversible ligand-binding reaction in two dimensions. We compare the (long-time) equilibrium properties obtained with transient anomalous diffusion due to obstacle hindrance or power-law-distributed residence times (continuous-time random walks) to those obtained with space-dependent slowed-down Brownian motion. Using theoretical arguments and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that these three scenarios have distinctive effects on the apparent affinity of the reaction. Whereas continuous-time random walks decrease the apparent affinity of the reaction, locally slowed-down Brownian motion and local hindrance by obstacles both improve it. However, only in the case of slowed-down Brownian motion is the affinity maximal when the slowdown is restricted to a subregion of the available space. Hence, even at long times (equilibrium), these processes are different and exhibit irreconcilable behaviors when the area fraction of reduced mobility changes. PMID:24209851

  18. Antigravity: Spin-gravity coupling in action

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Plyatsko, Roman; Fenyk, Mykola

    2016-08-01

    The typical motions of a spinning test particle in Schwarzschild's background which show the strong repulsive action of the highly relativistic spin-gravity coupling are considered using the exact Mathisson-Papapetrou equations. An approximated approach to choice solutions of these equations which describe motions of the particle's proper center of mass is developed.

  19. van Maanen, Adriaan (1884-1947)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Murdin, P.

    2000-11-01

    Dutch astronomer, became a member of the Mount Wilson staff, and studied the rotation of spiral nebulae as a means to establish their distances. His detection of rotational motions was illusory and misleadingly suggested that they were relatively nearby. Through its proper motion and parallax, he discovered the white dwarf van Maanen's star....

  20. Documentation for the machine-readable version of the AGK3 Star Catalogue of Positions and Proper Motions North of -2 deg .5 declination (Dieckvoss and Collaborators 1975)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Warren, W. H., Jr.

    1984-01-01

    A detailed description of the machine-readable astronomical catalog as it is currently being distributed from the Astronomical Data Center is given. Stellar motions and positions are listed herein in tabular form.

  1. uvby photometry in McCormick proper motion fields

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Degewij, J.

    1982-01-01

    The Danish 50 cm telescope at the European Southern Observatory was used to obtain high-precision uvby photometry for 50 F2 to G2 stars, with V values in the 9.4-12.3 mag range, which were selected in the southern galactic polar regions of the McCormick proper motion fields and measured on six different nights. The brighter stars are found to systematically exhibit smaller m(1) indices, of about 0.02 mag, upon comparison with the earlier data of Blaauw et al (1976). Single measurements are given for 98 stars in eight McCormick fields at intermediate southern galactic latitudes.

  2. Documentation for the machine-readable version of the Lowell Proper Motion Survey, Northern Hemisphere, the G numbered stars

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Warren, W. H., Jr.

    1983-01-01

    This catalog contains a summary of many individual papers published in the Lowell Observatory Bulletins in the years 1958 to 1970. The data in the machine-readable version include observed positions, proper motions, estimated photographic magnitudes and colors, and references to identifications in other catalogs. Photoelectric data on the UBV system are included for many stars, but no attempt was made to find all existing photometry. The machine version contains all data of the published catalog, except the Lowell Bulletin numbers where finding charts can be found. A separate file contains the notes published in the original catalog.

  3. A SUBSTELLAR COMMON PROPER-MOTION COMPANION TO THE PLEIAD H II 1348

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Geissler, Kerstin; Metchev, Stanimir A.; Pham, Alfonse

    2012-02-10

    We announce the identification of a proper-motion companion to the star H II 1348, a K5 V member of the Pleiades open cluster. The existence of a faint point source 1.''1 away from H II 1348 was previously known from adaptive optics imaging by Bouvier et al. However, because of a high likelihood of background star contamination and in the absence of follow-up astrometry, Bouvier et al. tentatively concluded that the candidate companion was not physically associated with H II 1348. We establish the proper-motion association of the pair from adaptive optics imaging with the Palomar 5 m telescope. Adaptivemore » optics spectroscopy with the integral field spectrograph OSIRIS on the Keck 10 m telescope reveals that the companion has a spectral type of M8 {+-} 1. According to substellar evolution models, the M8 spectral type resides within the substellar mass regime at the age of the Pleiades. The primary itself is a known double-lined spectroscopic binary, which makes the resolved companion, H II 1348B, the least massive and widest component of this hierarchical triple system and the first substellar companion to a stellar primary in the Pleiades.« less

  4. Measurement of the Expansion Proper Motions of the Ou4 Giant Bipolar Outflow to Determine its Distance and its True Nature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grosso, Nicolas

    2016-10-01

    Ou4 is a giant bipolar outflow with a total length of 1.2 degrees on the sky that was discovered in the optical in the direction of the blister HII region Sh2-129. The distance, the nature, and the driving source of Ou4 are, however, not known. Ou4 is relevant for the study of the eruptive phenomena producing collimated outflows from evolved low-mass binary stars and young, massive stellar systems. Our morpho-kinematics study of the Ou4 south bow-shock has allowed us to predict its expansion proper motion that is directly related to its distance. We propose to image the brightest [O III] emission of this bow-shock with the UVIS channel of the WFC3 in Cycle 24 and 26 in order to determine the distance of this largest known stellar bipolar outflow from its expansion proper motions. This measurement is crucial to determine the true nature of Ou4: either a foreground planetary nebula or a giant bipolar outflow launched 90,000 years ago by HR 8119, the young massive triple system ionising Sh2-129.

  5. The First Data from Gaia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fabricius, C.; Torra, J.

    2018-01-01

    The Gaia astrometric satellite is in its science operational phase since July 2014. At an average rate of 50 million observations per day, Gaia scans the full sky once every six months. The first data release (Gaia DR1), issued in September 2016, contains astrometric and photometric results for more than 1 billion stars brighter than magnitude 21 based on observations acquired during the first 14 months of operations. For more than two million stars brighter than 11.5 mag, positions, parallaxes, and proper motions have been obtained to HIPPARCOS-type precision through a combination with the earlier HIPPARCOS and Tycho-2 positions. For the remaining stars, positions at epoch J2015.0 have been obtained by essentially neglecting their proper motions and parallaxes. Positions and proper motions are in the ICRF radio/ VLBI frame. We give an overview of the current status of the mission, the astrometric challenges, the Data Processing and Analysis Consortium operations, the validation processes, the contents of Gaia DR1, and the prospects for the coming releases. We emphasise that although Gaia DR1 data are based on provisional and incomplete calibrations of the instrument, the results represent a huge improvement in the available fundamental stellar data, and discuss some of the first results.

  6. The Systemic Proper Motions of the Magellanic Clouds and their Orbits around the Milky Way

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kallivayalil, N.; van der Marel, R. P.; Alcock, C.; Axelrod, T.; Cook, K. H.; Drake, A. J.; Geha, M.

    2005-12-01

    The interaction between the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC & SMC) and the Milky Way (MW) is thought to have played an important role in the dynamical evolution of the MW's outer parts. The Clouds probe the potential of the MW dark halo in places where other kinematic tracers are unavailable and thus the MW-MC system has been a major subject of study. In particular, the global dynamics of both Clouds need to be well prescribed before other evolutionary features of the system can be understood. The radial velocities of the clouds are more readily determined than the transverse velocities, which can only be estimated using proper motions. We undertook a project using two epochs of HST/ACS data to determine the systemic proper motions of the Clouds. The Magellanic Cloud fields are centered on background QSOs that were discovered from their optical variability in the MACHO database (Geha et al. 2003). The final sample consists of 21 QSOs behind the LMC and 5 behind the SMC, distributed homogeneously behind the central few degrees of both Clouds. With a ˜2 year baseline and the use of the High Resolution Camera, we have determined the proper motion of the LMC to better than 5 \\ μ N = 0.44 ± 0.05 mas/yr (Kallivayalil et al. 2005). This is the most accurate proper motion measurement for any MW satellite thus far. We will present this measurement, as well as our results for the SMC, and the conclusions we can draw about the Clouds' orbits around the MW. Our study shows that ground-based work on finding QSOs can be combined with high resolution HST data to get good measurements in a relatively short amount of time. When combined with HI data from the Magellanic Stream our measurements should provide new constraints on both the mass distribution of the Galactic Halo and models of the Stream. Support for this work was provided by NASA through grant numbers GO-09462 and GO-10130 from STScI. KHC's work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE, NNSA, by the Univ. of California, LLNL under contract No. W-7405-Eng-48.

  7. Overall properties of the Gaia DR1 reference frame

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, N.; Zhu, Z.; Liu, J.-C.; Ding, C.-Y.

    2017-03-01

    Aims: The first Gaia data release (Gaia DR1) provides 2191 ICRF2 sources with their positions in the auxiliary quasar solution and five astrometric parameters - positions, parallaxes, and proper motions - for stars in common between the Tycho-2 catalogue and Gaia in the joint Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (TGAS). We aim to analyze the overall properties of Gaia DR1 reference frame. Methods: We compare quasar positions of the auxiliary quasar solution with ICRF2 sources using different samples and evaluate the influence on the Gaia DR1 reference frame owing to the Galactic aberration effect over the J2000.0-J2015.0 period. Then we estimate the global rotation between TGAS with Tycho-2 proper motion systems to investigate the property of the Gaia DR1 reference frame. Finally, the Galactic kinematics analysis using the K-M giant proper motions is performed to understand the property of Gaia DR1 reference frame. Results: The positional comparison between the auxiliary quasar solution and ICRF2 shows negligible orientation and validates the declination bias of -0.1mas in Gaia quasar positions with respect to ICRF2. Galactic aberration effect is thought to cause an offset 0.01mas of the Z axis direction of Gaia DR1 reference frame. The global rotation between TGAS and Tycho-2 proper motion systems, obtained by different samples, shows a much smaller value than the claimed value 0.24mas yr-1. For the Galactic kinematics analysis of the TGAS K-M giants, we find possible non-zero Galactic rotation components beyond the classical Oort constants: the rigid part ωYG = -0.38±0.15mas yr-1 and the differential part ω^primeYG = -0.29±0.19mas yr-1 around the YG axis of Galactic coordinates, which indicates possible residual rotation in Gaia DR1 reference frame or problems in the current Galactic kinematical model. Conclusions: The Gaia DR1 reference frame is well aligned to ICRF2, and the possible influence of the Galactic aberration effect should be taken into consideration for the future Gaia-ICRF link. The cause of the rather small global rotation between TGAS and Tycho-2 proper motion systems is unclear and needs further investigation. The possible residual rotation in Gaia DR1 reference frame inferred from the Galactic kinematic analysis should be noted and examined in future data release.

  8. Identification of Piecewise Linear Uniform Motion Blur

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patanukhom, Karn; Nishihara, Akinori

    A motion blur identification scheme is proposed for nonlinear uniform motion blurs approximated by piecewise linear models which consist of more than one linear motion component. The proposed scheme includes three modules that are a motion direction estimator, a motion length estimator and a motion combination selector. In order to identify the motion directions, the proposed scheme is based on a trial restoration by using directional forward ramp motion blurs along different directions and an analysis of directional information via frequency domain by using a Radon transform. Autocorrelation functions of image derivatives along several directions are employed for estimation of the motion lengths. A proper motion combination is identified by analyzing local autocorrelation functions of non-flat component of trial restored results. Experimental examples of simulated and real world blurred images are given to demonstrate a promising performance of the proposed scheme.

  9. What Causes the High Apparent Speeds in Chromospheric and Transition Region Spicules on the Sun?

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    De Pontieu, Bart; Martínez-Sykora, Juan; Chintzoglou, Georgios, E-mail: bdp@lmsal.com

    Spicules are the most ubuiquitous type of jets in the solar atmosphere. The advent of high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph ( IRIS ) and ground-based observatories has revealed the presence of very high apparent motions of order 100–300 km s{sup −1} in spicules, as measured in the plane of the sky. However, line of sight measurements of such high speeds have been difficult to obtain, with values deduced from Doppler shifts in spectral lines typically of order 30–70 km s{sup −1}. In this work, we resolve this long-standing discrepancy using recent 2.5D radiative MHD simulations.more » This simulation has revealed a novel driving mechanism for spicules in which ambipolar diffusion resulting from ion-neutral interactions plays a key role. In our simulation, we often see that the upward propagation of magnetic waves and electrical currents from the low chromosphere into already existing spicules can lead to rapid heating when the currents are rapidly dissipated by ambipolar diffusion. The combination of rapid heating and the propagation of these currents at Alfvénic speeds in excess of 100 km s{sup −1} leads to the very rapid apparent motions, and often wholesale appearance, of spicules at chromospheric and transition region temperatures. In our simulation, the observed fast apparent motions in such jets are actually a signature of a heating front, and much higher than the mass flows, which are of order 30–70 km s{sup −1}. Our results can explain the behavior of transition region “network jets” and the very high apparent speeds reported for some chromospheric spicules.« less

  10. Holding or Breaking with Ptolemy's Generalization: Considerations about the Motion of the Planetary Apsidal Lines in Medieval Islamic Astronomy.

    PubMed

    Mozaffari, S Mohammad

    2017-03-01

    Argument In the Almagest, Ptolemy finds that the apogee of Mercury moves progressively at a speed equal to his value for the rate of precession, namely one degree per century, in the tropical reference system of the ecliptic coordinates. He generalizes this to the other planets, so that the motions of the apogees of all five planets are assumed to be equal, while the solar apsidal line is taken to be fixed. In medieval Islamic astronomy, one change in this general proposition took place because of the discovery of the motion of the solar apogee in the ninth century, which gave rise to lengthy discussions on the speed of its motion. Initially Bīrūnī and later Ibn al-Zarqālluh assigned a proper motion to it, although at different rates. Nevertheless, appealing to the Ptolemaic generalization and interpreting it as a methodological axiom, the dominant idea became to extend it in order to include the motion of the solar apogee as well. Another change occurred after correctly making a distinction between the motion of the apogees and the rate of precession. Some Western Islamic astronomers generalized Ibn al-Zarqālluh's proper motion of the solar apogee to the apogees of the planets. Analogously, Ibn al-Shāṭir maintained that the motion of the apogees is faster than precession. Nevertheless, the Ptolemaic generalization in the case of the equality of the motions of the apogees remained untouchable, despite the notable development of planetary astronomy, in both theoretical and observational aspects, in the late Islamic period.

  11. Encoding of speed and direction of movement in the human supplementary motor area

    PubMed Central

    Tankus, Ariel; Yeshurun, Yehezkel; Flash, Tamar; Fried, Itzhak

    2010-01-01

    Object The supplementary motor area (SMA) plays an important role in planning, initiation, and execution of motor acts. Patients with SMA lesions are impaired in various kinematic parameters, such as velocity and duration of movement. However, the relationships between neuronal activity and these parameters in the human brain have not been fully characterized. This is a study of single-neuron activity during a continuous volitional motor task, with the goal of clarifying these relationships for SMA neurons and other frontal lobe regions in humans. Methods The participants were 7 patients undergoing evaluation for epilepsy surgery requiring implantation of intracranial depth electrodes. Single-unit recordings were conducted while the patients played a computer game involving movement of a cursor in a simple maze. Results In the SMA proper, most of the recorded units exhibited a monotonic relationship between the unit firing rate and hand motion speed. The vast majority of SMA proper units with this property showed an inverse relation, that is, firing rate decrease with speed increase. In addition, most of the SMA proper units were selective to the direction of hand motion. These relationships were far less frequent in the pre-SMA, anterior cingulate gyrus, and orbitofrontal cortex. Conclusions The findings suggest that the SMA proper takes part in the control of kinematic parameters of end-effector motion, and thus lend support to the idea of connecting neuroprosthetic devices to the human SMA. PMID:19231930

  12. Window of visibility - A psychophysical theory of fidelity in time-sampled visual motion displays

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Watson, A. B.; Ahumada, A. J., Jr.; Farrell, J. E.

    1986-01-01

    A film of an object in motion presents on the screen a sequence of static views, while the human observer sees the object moving smoothly across the screen. Questions related to the perceptual identity of continuous and stroboscopic displays are examined. Time-sampled moving images are considered along with the contrast distribution of continuous motion, the contrast distribution of stroboscopic motion, the frequency spectrum of continuous motion, the frequency spectrum of stroboscopic motion, the approximation of the limits of human visual sensitivity to spatial and temporal frequencies by a window of visibility, the critical sampling frequency, the contrast distribution of staircase motion and the frequency spectrum of this motion, and the spatial dependence of the critical sampling frequency. Attention is given to apparent motion, models of motion, image recording, and computer-generated imagery.

  13. Parsec's astrometry direct approaches .

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Andrei, A. H.

    Parallaxes - and hence the fundamental establishment of stellar distances - rank among the oldest, keyest, and hardest of astronomical determinations. Arguably amongst the most essential too. The direct approach to obtain trigonometric parallaxes, using a constrained set of equations to derive positions, proper motions, and parallaxes, has been labeled as risky. Properly so, because the axis of the parallactic apparent ellipse is smaller than one arcsec even for the nearest stars, and just a fraction of its perimeter can be followed. Thus the classical approach is of linearizing the description by locking the solution to a set of precise positions of the Earth at the instants of observation, rather than to the dynamics of its orbit, and of adopting a close examination of the never many points available. In the PARSEC program the parallaxes of 143 brown dwarfs were aimed at. Five years of observation of the fields were taken with the WIFI camera at the ESO 2.2m telescope, in Chile. The goal is to provide a statistically significant number of trigonometric parallaxes to BD sub-classes from L0 to T7. Taking advantage of the large, regularly spaced, quantity of observations, here we take the risky approach to fit an ellipse in ecliptical observed coordinates and derive the parallaxes. We also combine the solutions from different centroiding methods, widely proven in prior astrometric investigations. As each of those methods assess diverse properties of the PSFs, they are taken as independent measurements, and combined into a weighted least-square general solution.

  14. USING RUNNING DIFFERENCE IMAGES TO TRACK PROPER MOTIONS OF XUV CORONAL INTENSITY ON THE SUN

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sheeley, N. R. Jr.; Warren, H. P.; Lee, J., E-mail: neil.sheeley@nrl.navy.mil, E-mail: harry.warren@nrl.navy.mil

    2014-12-20

    We have developed a procedure for observing and tracking proper motions of faint XUV coronal intensity on the Sun and have applied this procedure to study the collective motions of cellular plumes and the shorter-period waves in sunspots. Our space/time maps of cellular plumes show a series of tracks with the same 5-8 minute repetition times and ∼100 km s{sup –1} sky-plane speeds found previously in active-region fans and in coronal hole plumes. By synchronizing movies and space/time maps, we find that the tracks are produced by elongated ejections from the unipolar flux concentrations at the bases of the cellular plumes and thatmore » the phases of these ejections are uncorrelated from cell to cell. Thus, the large-scale motion is not a continuous flow, but is more like a system of independent conveyor belts all moving in the same direction along the magnetic field. In contrast, the proper motions in sunspots are clearly waves resulting from periodic disturbances in the sunspot umbras. The periods are ∼2.6 minutes, but the sky-plane speeds and wavelengths depend on the heights of the waves above the sunspot. In the chromosphere, the waves decelerate from 35-45 km s{sup –1} in the umbra to 7-8 km s{sup –1} toward the outer edge of the penumbra, but in the corona, the waves accelerate to ∼60-100 km s{sup –1}. Because chromospheric and coronal tracks originate from the same space/time locations, the coronal waves must emerge from the same umbral flashes that produce the chromospheric waves.« less

  15. Meaningful interpretation of subdiffusive measurements in living cells (crowded environment) by fluorescence fluctuation microscopy.

    PubMed

    Baumann, Gerd; Place, Robert F; Földes-Papp, Zeno

    2010-08-01

    In living cell or its nucleus, the motions of molecules are complicated due to the large crowding and expected heterogeneity of the intracellular environment. Randomness in cellular systems can be either spatial (anomalous) or temporal (heterogeneous). In order to separate both processes, we introduce anomalous random walks on fractals that represented crowded environments. We report the use of numerical simulation and experimental data of single-molecule detection by fluorescence fluctuation microscopy for detecting resolution limits of different mobile fractions in crowded environment of living cells. We simulate the time scale behavior of diffusion times tau(D)(tau) for one component, e.g. the fast mobile fraction, and a second component, e.g. the slow mobile fraction. The less the anomalous exponent alpha the higher the geometric crowding of the underlying structure of motion that is quantified by the ratio of the Hausdorff dimension and the walk exponent d(f)/d(w) and specific for the type of crowding generator used. The simulated diffusion time decreases for smaller values of alpha # 1 but increases for a larger time scale tau at a given value of alpha # 1. The effect of translational anomalous motion is substantially greater if alpha differs much from 1. An alpha value close to 1 contributes little to the time dependence of subdiffusive motions. Thus, quantitative determination of molecular weights from measured diffusion times and apparent diffusion coefficients, respectively, in temporal auto- and crosscorrelation analyses and from time-dependent fluorescence imaging data are difficult to interpret and biased in crowded environments of living cells and their cellular compartments; anomalous dynamics on different time scales tau must be coupled with the quantitative analysis of how experimental parameters change with predictions from simulated subdiffusive dynamics of molecular motions and mechanistic models. We first demonstrate that the crowding exponent alpha also determines the resolution of differences in diffusion times between two components in addition to photophysical parameters well-known for normal motion in dilute solution. The resolution limit between two different kinds of single molecule species is also analyzed under translational anomalous motion with broken ergodicity. We apply our theoretical predictions of diffusion times and lower limits for the time resolution of two components to fluorescence images in human prostate cancer cells transfected with GFP-Ago2 and GFP-Ago1. In order to mimic heterogeneous behavior in crowded environments of living cells, we need to introduce so-called continuous time random walks (CTRW). CTRWs were originally performed on regular lattice. This purely stochastic molecule behavior leads to subdiffusive motion with broken ergodicity in our simulations. For the first time, we are able to quantitatively differentiate between anomalous motion without broken ergodicity and anomalous motion with broken ergodicity in time-dependent fluorescence microscopy data sets of living cells. Since the experimental conditions to measure a selfsame molecule over an extended period of time, at which biology is taken place, in living cells or even in dilute solution are very restrictive, we need to perform the time average over a subpopulation of different single molecules of the same kind. For time averages over subpopulations of single molecules, the temporal auto- and crosscorrelation functions are first found. Knowing the crowding parameter alpha for the cell type and cellular compartment type, respectively, the heterogeneous parameter gamma can be obtained from the measurements in the presence of the interacting reaction partner, e.g. ligand, with the same alpha value. The product alpha x gamma = gamma is not a simple fitting parameter in the temporal auto- and two-color crosscorrelation functions because it is related to the proper physical models of anomalous (spatial) and heterogeneous (temporal) randomness in cellular systems.We have already derived an analytical solution gamma for in the special case of gamma = 3/2. In the case of two-color crosscorrelation or/and two-color fluorescence imaging (co-localization experiments), the second component is also a two-color species gr, for example a different molecular complex with an additional ligand. Here, we first show that plausible biological mechanisms from FCS/ FCCS and fluorescence imaging in living cells are highly questionable without proper quantitative physical models of subdiffusive motion and temporal randomness. At best, such quantitative FCS/ FCCS and fluorescence imaging data are difficult to interpret under crowding and heterogeneous conditions. It is challenging to translate proper physical models of anomalous (spatial) and heterogeneous (temporal) randomness in living cells and their cellular compartments like the nucleus into biological models of the cell biological process under study testable by single-molecule approaches. Otherwise, quantitative FCS/FCCS and fluorescence imaging measurements in living cells are not well described and cannot be interpreted in a meaningful way.

  16. Chromosomal locus tracking with proper accounting of static and dynamic errors

    PubMed Central

    Backlund, Mikael P.; Joyner, Ryan; Moerner, W. E.

    2015-01-01

    The mean-squared displacement (MSD) and velocity autocorrelation (VAC) of tracked single particles or molecules are ubiquitous metrics for extracting parameters that describe the object’s motion, but they are both corrupted by experimental errors that hinder the quantitative extraction of underlying parameters. For the simple case of pure Brownian motion, the effects of localization error due to photon statistics (“static error”) and motion blur due to finite exposure time (“dynamic error”) on the MSD and VAC are already routinely treated. However, particles moving through complex environments such as cells, nuclei, or polymers often exhibit anomalous diffusion, for which the effects of these errors are less often sufficiently treated. We present data from tracked chromosomal loci in yeast that demonstrate the necessity of properly accounting for both static and dynamic error in the context of an anomalous diffusion that is consistent with a fractional Brownian motion (FBM). We compare these data to analytical forms of the expected values of the MSD and VAC for a general FBM in the presence of these errors. PMID:26172745

  17. New Evidence for the Dynamical Decay of a Multiple System in the Orion Kleinmann–Low Nebula

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Luhman, K. L.; Robberto, M.; Gabellini, M. Giulia Ubeira

    We have measured astrometry for members of the Orion Nebula Cluster with images obtained in 2015 with the Wide Field Camera 3 on board the Hubble Space Telescope . By comparing those data to previous measurements with the Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer on Hubble in 1998, we have discovered that a star in the Kleinmann–Low Nebula, source x from Lonsdale et al., is moving with an unusually high proper motion of 29 mas yr{sup −1}, which corresponds to 55 km s{sup −1} at the distance of Orion. Previous radio observations have found that three other stars in the Kleinmann–Lowmore » Nebula (the Becklin–Neugebauer object and sources I and n) have high proper motions (5–14 mas yr{sup −1}) and were near a single location ∼540 years ago, and thus may have been members of a multiple system that dynamically decayed. The proper motion of source x is consistent with ejection from that same location 540 years ago, which provides strong evidence that the dynamical decay did occur and that the runaway star BN originated in the Kleinmann–Low Nebula rather than the nearby Trapezium cluster. However, our constraint on the motion of source n is significantly smaller than the most recent radio measurement, which indicates that it did not participate in the event that ejected the other three stars.« less

  18. New Evidence for the Dynamical Decay of a Multiple System in the Orion Kleinmann-Low Nebula

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luhman, K. L.; Robberto, M.; Tan, J. C.; Andersen, M.; Giulia Ubeira Gabellini, M.; Manara, C. F.; Platais, I.; Ubeda, L.

    2017-03-01

    We have measured astrometry for members of the Orion Nebula Cluster with images obtained in 2015 with the Wide Field Camera 3 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. By comparing those data to previous measurements with the Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer on Hubble in 1998, we have discovered that a star in the Kleinmann-Low Nebula, source x from Lonsdale et al., is moving with an unusually high proper motion of 29 mas yr-1, which corresponds to 55 km s-1 at the distance of Orion. Previous radio observations have found that three other stars in the Kleinmann-Low Nebula (the Becklin-Neugebauer object and sources I and n) have high proper motions (5-14 mas yr-1) and were near a single location ˜540 years ago, and thus may have been members of a multiple system that dynamically decayed. The proper motion of source x is consistent with ejection from that same location 540 years ago, which provides strong evidence that the dynamical decay did occur and that the runaway star BN originated in the Kleinmann-Low Nebula rather than the nearby Trapezium cluster. However, our constraint on the motion of source n is significantly smaller than the most recent radio measurement, which indicates that it did not participate in the event that ejected the other three stars. Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility.

  19. The fate of NGC602, an intense region of star-formation in the Wing of the SMC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sabbi, Elena

    2017-08-01

    This is a small 2 orbit proposal designed to measure the internal dynamics of NGC602, a small region of intense star formation in the Wing of the SMC, with a low gas and dust density that has been often considered an unfavorable place for star formation. Small regions of massive star formation are important to study for our understanding of the process of star and cluster formation, the ionization of the interstellar medium, and the injection of energy and momentum into their host galaxy. By combining our new observations with archival ACS/WFC data acquired in July 2004, we will be able to measure the relative proper motions of the NGC602 sub-structures better than 2.3 km/s and investigate the nature of the apparently isolated massive stars found around NGC602. This study will provide unique observational data to characterize the early phase of cluster evolution and test cluster formation theories. It will also address significant open issues in star formation, cluster dynamics and the origin of isolated supernovae and GRBs.

  20. New red giant star in the Kepler open cluster NGC 6819

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Komucyeya, E.; Abedigamba, O. P.; Jurua, E.; Anguma, S. K.

    2018-05-01

    A recent study indicated that 39 red giant stars showing solar-like oscillations were discovered in the field of Kepleropen cluster NGC 6819. The study was based on photometric distance estimates of 27 stars out of the 39. Using photometric method alone may not be adequate to confirm the membership of these stars. The stars were not previously known in literature to belong to the open cluster NGC 6819. In this study, Kepler data was used to study the membership of the 27 stars. A plot of apparent magnitude as a function of the large frequency separation, supplemented with the proper motion and radial velocity values from literature revealed KIC 5112840 to lie on the same plane with the well known members of the cluster. Echelle diagram was constructed, and the median gravity-mode period spacings (ΔP) calculated for KIC 5112840. A value of ΔP = 66.3 s was obtained, thus placing the red giant star KIC 5112840 on the Red Giant Branch stage of evolution. Our evolutionary status result using the approach in this paper is in agreement with what is in the available literature.

  1. VizieR Online Data Catalog: 280 one-opposition near Earth asteroids (Vaduvescu+, 2018)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vaduvescu, O.; Hudin, L.; Mocnik, T.; Char, F.; Sonka, A.; Tudor, V.; Ordonez-Etxeberria, I.; Diaz Alfaro, M.; Ashley, R.; Errmann, R.; Short, P.; Moloceniuc, A.; Cornea, R.; Inceu, V.; Zavoianu, D.; Popescu, M.; Curelaru, L.; Mihalea, S.; Stoian, A.-M.; Boldea, A.; Toma, R.; Fields, L.; Grigore, V.; Stoev, H.; Lopez-Martinez, F.; Humphries, N.; Sowicka, P.; Ramanjooloo, Y.; Manilla-Robles, A.; Riddick, F. C.; Jimenez-Lujan, F.; Mendez, J.; Aceituno, F.; Sota, A.; Jones, D.; Hidalgo, S.; Murabito, S.; Oteo, I.; Bongiovanni, A.; Zamora, O.; Pyrzas, S.; Tanausu, R.; Font, J.; Bereciartua, A.; Perez-Fournon, I.; Martinez-Vazquez, C. E.; Monelli, M.; Cicuendez, L.; Monteagudo, L.; Agulli, I.; Bouy, H.; Huelamo, N.; Monguio, M.; Gaensicke, B. T.; Steeghs, D.; Gentile-Fusillo, N. P.; Hollands, M. A.; Toloza, O.; Manser, C. J.; Dhillon, V.; Sahman, D.; Fitzsimmons, A.; McNeill, A.; Thompson, A.; Tabor, M.; Murphy, D. N. A.; Davies, J.; Snodgrass, C.; Triaud, A. H. M. J.; Groot, P. J.; Macfarlane, S.; Peletier, R.; Sen, S.; Ikiz, T.; Hoekstra, H.; Herbonnet, R.; Koehlinger, F.; Greimel, R.; Afonso, A.; Parker, Q. A.; Kong, A. K. H.; Bassa, C.; Pleunis, Z.

    2017-10-01

    Table 2 lists the observing log of the EURONEAR 2013-2016 one-opposition near Earth asteroids (NEAs) recovery project. The Tables includes 457 observed fields (437 using the INT, 12 using the WHT and 4 using the OGS). We ordered the table based on the asteroid designation (first column) then the observing date (start night), listing the apparent magnitude V (according to MPC ephemerides), the proper motion miu and the positional uncertainty of the targets (as shown on the observing date by MPC at 3σ level), the number of acquired images (including nearby fields), and the exposure time (in seconds). In the last three columns we list the current status of the targets (as classified in the paper by Aug 2017), the MPS publication that includes our recovery, and some comments that can include the PHA classification, other used telescopes (WHT or OGS), the track-and-stack technique (TS, whenever used), other possible external stations (MPC observatory code) and the date of later recovery (given only for later recoveries when we were unable to find the targets or for joined simultaneous recoveries). (1 data file).

  2. New Parallaxes for the Upper Scorpius OB Association

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Donaldson, J. K.; Weinberger, A. J.; Gagné, J.; Boss, A. P.; Keiser, S. A.

    2017-11-01

    Upper Scorpius is a subgroup of the nearest OB association, Scorpius-Centaurus. Its young age makes it an important association to study star and planet formation. We present parallaxes to 52 low-mass stars in Upper Scorpius, 28 of which have full kinematics. We measure ages of the individual stars by combining our measured parallaxes with pre-main-sequence evolutionary tracks. We find a significant difference in the ages of stars with and without circumstellar disks. The stars without disks have a mean age of 4.9 ± 0.8 Myr and those with disks have an older mean age of 8.2 ± 0.9 Myr. This somewhat counterintuitive result suggests that evolutionary effects in young stars can dominate their apparent ages. We also attempt to use the 28 stars with full kinematics (I.e., proper motion, radial velocity (RV), and parallax) to trace the stars back in time to their original birthplace to obtain a trackback age. As expected, given the large measurement uncertainties on available RV measurements, we find that measurement uncertainties alone cause the group to diverge after a few Myr.

  3. Perception of visual apparent motion is modulated by a gap within concurrent auditory glides, even when it is illusory.

    PubMed

    Wang, Qingcui; Guo, Lu; Bao, Ming; Chen, Lihan

    2015-01-01

    Auditory and visual events often happen concurrently, and how they group together can have a strong effect on what is perceived. We investigated whether/how intra- or cross-modal temporal grouping influenced the perceptual decision of otherwise ambiguous visual apparent motion. To achieve this, we juxtaposed auditory gap transfer illusion with visual Ternus display. The Ternus display involves a multi-element stimulus that can induce either of two different percepts of apparent motion: 'element motion' (EM) or 'group motion' (GM). In "EM," the endmost disk is seen as moving back and forth while the middle disk at the central position remains stationary; while in "GM," both disks appear to move laterally as a whole. The gap transfer illusion refers to the illusory subjective transfer of a short gap (around 100 ms) from the long glide to the short continuous glide when the two glides intercede at the temporal middle point. In our experiments, observers were required to make a perceptual discrimination of Ternus motion in the presence of concurrent auditory glides (with or without a gap inside). Results showed that a gap within a short glide imposed a remarkable effect on separating visual events, and led to a dominant perception of GM as well. The auditory configuration with gap transfer illusion triggered the same auditory capture effect. Further investigations showed that visual interval which coincided with the gap interval (50-230 ms) in the long glide was perceived to be shorter than that within both the short glide and the 'gap-transfer' auditory configurations in the same physical intervals (gaps). The results indicated that auditory temporal perceptual grouping takes priority over the cross-modal interaction in determining the final readout of the visual perception, and the mechanism of selective attention on auditory events also plays a role.

  4. CCD Measurements and Linear Solution for WDS 02041-7115

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hensley, Hagan; Giles, Ava; Mayhue, Lance; Badami, Umar Ahmed; Tock, Kalée.

    2018-01-01

    The double star system WDS 02041-7115 or HJ 3483 was imaged using the Skynet Robotic Telescope Network on Jan 31 (Besselian date 2017.085). Using AstroImageJ, the secondary was measured to have a position angle of 263° and a separation of 7.6". Because the distance to the primary is known, along with the spectral classes and proper motions of both, we show that a gravitational relationship is not only unlikely, but mathematically impossible for these stars. Even if the secondary is at the same distance as the primary, its proper motion rela-tive to the primary would exceed its escape velocity. We also present a linear solution for the pair.

  5. VizieR Online Data Catalog: HSTPROMO catalogs. II. Kinematic profiles (Watkins+, 2015)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Watkins, L. L.; van der Marel, R. P.; Bellini, A.; Anderson, J.

    2015-07-01

    In Bellini et al. (2014, J/ApJ/797/115, Paper 1), we recently presented a set of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) proper-motion catalogs for 22 Milky Way globular clusters. These catalogs are the result of a search through archival HST data to find fields in Galactic globular clusters that had been previously observed for other projects at multiple epochs, allowing us to measure proper motions. Thanks to both the stability and longevity of HST, we were able to achieve exceptional precision over baselines of up to 12yr. We begin here an analysis of the kinematical profiles and maps for each of the 22 clusters. (2 data files).

  6. Identifications and limited spectroscopy for Luyten common proper motion stars with probable white dwarf components. I - Pair brighter than 17th magnitude

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Oswalt, Terry D.; Hintzen, Paul M.; Luyten, Willem J.

    1988-01-01

    Identifications are provided for 103 bright Luyten common proper motion (CPM) stellar systems with m(pg) less than 17.0 mag containing likely white dwarf (WD) components. New spectral types are presented for 55 components, and spectral types for 51 more are available in the literature. With the CPM systems previously published by Giclas et al. (1978), the Luyten stars provide a uniform sample of nearly 200 pairs or multiples brighter than 17h magnitude. Selection effects biasing the combined samples are discussed; in particular, evidence is presented that fewer than 1 percent of wide WD binaries have been detected.

  7. Counter-Check of 4,937 WDS Objects for Being Physical Double Stars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Knapp, Wilfried; Bryant, T. V.

    2018-04-01

    The WDS catalog contains (as of August 2017) more than 20,000 V-coded objects which are considered to be physical pairs because of their common proper motion (CPM) or other attributes. For 4,937 of these objects both components were identified in the UCAC5 catalog and counter-checked with UCAC5 proper motion data using a CPM assessment scheme according to Knapp and Nanson 2017. A surprisingly large number of these pairs seem to be optical rather than physical. Additionally GAIA DR1 positions are given for all components, and precise separation and position angle based on GAIA DR1 coordinates were calculated for all of the 4,937 pair.

  8. Neural network architecture for form and motion perception (Abstract Only)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grossberg, Stephen

    1991-08-01

    Evidence is given for a new neural network theory of biological motion perception, a motion boundary contour system. This theory clarifies why parallel streams V1 yields V2 and V1 yields MT exist for static form and motion form processing among the areas V1, V2, and MT of visual cortex. The motion boundary contour system consists of several parallel copies, such that each copy is activated by a different range of receptive field sizes. Each copy is further subdivided into two hierarchically organized subsystems: a motion oriented contrast (MOC) filter, for preprocessing moving images; and a cooperative-competitive feedback (CC) loop, for generating emergent boundary segmentations of the filtered signals. The present work uses the MOC filter to explain a variety of classical and recent data about short-range and long- range apparent motion percepts that have not yet been explained by alternative models. These data include split motion; reverse-contrast gamma motion; delta motion; visual inertia; group motion in response to a reverse-contrast Ternus display at short interstimulus intervals; speed- up of motion velocity as interflash distance increases or flash duration decreases; dependence of the transition from element motion to group motion on stimulus duration and size; various classical dependencies between flash duration, spatial separation, interstimulus interval, and motion threshold known as Korte''s Laws; and dependence of motion strength on stimulus orientation and spatial frequency. These results supplement earlier explanations by the model of apparent motion data that other models have not explained; a recent proposed solution of the global aperture problem including explanations of motion capture and induced motion; an explanation of how parallel cortical systems for static form perception and motion form perception may develop, including a demonstration that these parallel systems are variations on a common cortical design; an explanation of why the geometries of static form and motion form differ, in particular why opposite orientations differ by 90 degree(s), whereas opposite directions differ by 180 degree(s), and why a cortical stream V1 yields V2 yields MT is needed; and a summary of how the main properties of other motion perception models can be assimilated into different parts of the motion boundary contour system design.

  9. Anomalous versus slowed-down Brownian diffusion in the ligand-binding equilibrium.

    PubMed

    Soula, Hédi; Caré, Bertrand; Beslon, Guillaume; Berry, Hugues

    2013-11-05

    Measurements of protein motion in living cells and membranes consistently report transient anomalous diffusion (subdiffusion) that converges back to a Brownian motion with reduced diffusion coefficient at long times after the anomalous diffusion regime. Therefore, slowed-down Brownian motion could be considered the macroscopic limit of transient anomalous diffusion. On the other hand, membranes are also heterogeneous media in which Brownian motion may be locally slowed down due to variations in lipid composition. Here, we investigate whether both situations lead to a similar behavior for the reversible ligand-binding reaction in two dimensions. We compare the (long-time) equilibrium properties obtained with transient anomalous diffusion due to obstacle hindrance or power-law-distributed residence times (continuous-time random walks) to those obtained with space-dependent slowed-down Brownian motion. Using theoretical arguments and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that these three scenarios have distinctive effects on the apparent affinity of the reaction. Whereas continuous-time random walks decrease the apparent affinity of the reaction, locally slowed-down Brownian motion and local hindrance by obstacles both improve it. However, only in the case of slowed-down Brownian motion is the affinity maximal when the slowdown is restricted to a subregion of the available space. Hence, even at long times (equilibrium), these processes are different and exhibit irreconcilable behaviors when the area fraction of reduced mobility changes. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Early Functional Treatment of Proximal Phalanx Fractures in Children: A Case Series Study.

    PubMed

    Bohr, Stefan; Mammadli, Toghrul

    2018-05-23

    The objective of this study was to assess proper indications a nonsurgical treatment regime for pediatric fractures of the proximal phalanx based on principles of early functional treatment. A case series (evidence level 4) of 30 pediatric patients with fractures of the proximal phalanx were treated nonsurgically using protective dynamic splinting techniques and fiberglass casting material. Assessments were performed clinically and by x-ray within 4 to 8 weeks of commencement of treatment. Outcome measures included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score questionnaire as well as fingertip palm distance (cm) and dynamic pain interval assessments. All fractures healed without any clinically apparent bony deformities. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores were of 25.17 ± 5.29 (mean ± SD), which indicated good functional results usually within 2 weeks of removal of dynamic splints. Fingertip palm distance measurements at endpoints were of 0.17 ± 0.27 cm (mean ± SD), which indicated an almost free range of finger motion. Absence of pain perception under active finger motion (dynamic pain interval) was noted at 14.10 ± 6.79 days (mean ± SD). Well-established criteria for surgical treatment of phalangeal fractures exist. However, in our experience, a majority of pediatric fractures of the proximal phalanx can be safely treated nonsurgically with dynamic splinting along with shorter intervals of immobilization of the affected fingers and faster restoration of overall hand function compared to surgical treatment.

  11. Nearby kinematic wiggles from LEGUE

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carlin, J. L.; Newberg, H. J.; Deng, L.; Delaunay, J.; Gole, D.; Grabowski, K.; Liu, C.; Xu, Y.; Yang, F.; Zhang, H.

    2014-01-01

    In its first two observing seasons, the LEGUE (LAMOST Experiment for Galactic Understanding and Exploration; Deng et al., Zhao et al. 2012) survey has obtained ~1.7 million science-quality spectra. We apply corrections to the PPMXL proper motions (PMs; Roeser et al. 2010) as a function of position, as determined from the measured PMs of extragalactic objects discovered in LAMOST spectra (see Fig. 1, left and center panels). LAMOST radial velocities and corrected PMs are used to derive 3D space velocities for ~480,000 F-stars (assuming M V =4 to derive distances). The right panel of Fig. 1 shows the radial component of Galactic cylindrical velocities (V R ) for stars between 7.80° (3rd Galactic quadrant), but not for θ<0°. The velocities are also asymmetric across the Galactic plane for θ<0° (2nd quadrant), with most positions < V R >> 0 above the disk (radially outward), and < V R > < 0 below the disk. Similar structure to this apparent ``shearing'' motion has been seen in RAVE (e.g., Williams et al. 2013; Siebert et al. 2012), and SDSS (Widrow et al. 2012).

  12. An X-ray Expansion and Proper Motion Study of the Magellanic Cloud Supernova Remnant J0509-6731 with the Chandra X-ray Observatory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roper, Quentin; Filipovi, Miroslav; Allen, Glenn E.; Sano, Hidetoshi; Park, Laurence; Pannuti, Thomas G.; Sasaki, Manami; Haberl, Frank; Kavanagh, Patrick J.; Yamane, Yumiko; Yoshiike, Satoshi; Fujii, Kosuke; Fukui, Yasuo; Seitenzahl, Ivo R.

    2018-05-01

    Using archival Chandra data consisting of a total of 78.46 ksec over two epochs seven years apart, we have measured the expansion of the young (˜400 years old) type Ia Large Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant (SNR) J0509-6731. In addition, we use radial brightness profile matching to detect proper-motion expansion of this SNR, and estimate an speed of 7 500±1 700 km s-1. This is one of the only proper motion studies of extragalactic SNRs expansion that is able to derive an expansion velocity, and one of only two such studies of an extragalactic SNR to yield positive results in the X-rays. We find that this expansion velocity is consistent with an optical expansion study on this object. In addition, we examine the medium into which the SNR is expanding by examining the CO and neutral H I gas using radio data obtained from Mopra, the Australia Telescope Compact Array and Parkes radio telescopes. We also briefly compare this result with a recent radio survey, and find that our results predict a radio spectral index α of -0.67±0.07. This value is consistent with high frequency radio observations of MCSNR J0509-6731.

  13. A Deep Proper Motion Catalog Within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Footprint. II. The White Dwarf Luminosity Function

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Munn, Jeffrey A.; Harris, Hugh C.; von Hippel, Ted; Kilic, Mukremin; Liebert, James W.; Williams, Kurtis A.; DeGennaro, Steven; Jeffery, Elizabeth; Dame, Kyra; Gianninas, A.; Brown, Warren R.

    2017-01-01

    A catalog of 8472 white dwarf (WD) candidates is presented, selected using reduced proper motions from the deep proper motion catalog of Munn et al. Candidates are selected in the magnitude range 16< r< 21.5 over 980 square degrees, and 16< r< 21.3 over an additional 1276 square degrees, within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging footprint. Distances, bolometric luminosities, and atmospheric compositions are derived by fitting SDSS ugriz photometry to pure hydrogen and helium model atmospheres (assuming surface gravities {log} {\\text{}}g=8). The disk white dwarf luminosity function (WDLF) is constructed using a sample of 2839 stars with 5.5< {M}{bol}< 17, with statistically significant numbers of stars cooler than the turnover in the luminosity function. The WDLF for the halo is also constructed, using a sample of 135 halo WDs with 5< {M}{bol}< 16. We find space densities of disk and halo WDs in the solar neighborhood of 5.5+/- 0.1× {10}-3 {{pc}}-3 and 3.5+/- 0.7× {10}-5 {{pc}}-3, respectively. We resolve the bump in the disk WDLF due to the onset of fully convective envelopes in WDs, and see indications of it in the halo WDLF as well.

  14. DETECTION OF A STELLAR STREAM BEHIND OPEN CLUSTER NGC 188: ANOTHER PART OF THE MONOCEROS STREAM

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Casetti-Dinescu, Dana I.; Girard, Terrence M.; Van Altena, William F.

    2010-05-15

    We present results from a WIYN/Orthogonal Parallel Transfer Imaging Camera photometric and astrometric survey of the field of the open cluster NGC 188 ((l, b) = (122.{sup 0}8, 22.{sup 0}5)). We combine these results with the proper-motion and photometry catalog of Platais et al. and demonstrate the existence of a stellar overdensity in the background of NGC 188. The theoretical isochrone fits to the color-magnitude diagram of the overdensity are consistent with an age between 6 and 10 Gyr and an intermediately metal poor population ([Fe/H] = -0.5 to -1.0). The distance to the overdensity is estimated to be betweenmore » 10.0 and 12.6 kpc. The proper motions indicate that the stellar population of the overdensity is kinematically cold. The distance estimate and the absolute proper motion of the overdensity agree reasonably well with the predictions of the Penarrubia et al. model of the formation of the Monoceros stream. Orbits for this material constructed with plausible radial-velocity values, indicate that dynamically, this material is unlikely to belong to the thick disk. Taken together, this evidence suggests that the newly found overdensity is part of the Monoceros stream.« less

  15. A Pilot Study of the Kinematics of the Open Cluster IC 4756.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Upgren, A. R.; Lee, J. T.; Weis, E. W.

    1998-12-01

    In 1982 a working group of I.A.U. Commission 24 was established in order to provide parallax standard fields (IAU Transactions, XVIIIB,127 1982). Three of these fields for regular trigonometric parallax observation are centered on open clusters; the Pleiades, Praesepe and IC4756. Very few studies on IC4756 have been made; one is by Herzog and Sanders (AAPS, 19, 211 1975). The Van Vleck Observatory began normal parallax observations of IC4756 with its 0.5m astrometric refractor in 1980. A few observations were also obtained in 1963. Using Yale PDS machine, Lee has measured two of these early plates and two from 1997-98. The proper motion differences among the stars from different plate pair solutions are about 0.0008"/yr, and the mean proper motion of member stars is about 0.003"/yr, with respect to the mean motion of the field stars. The epoch difference of 34 years appears sufficient for accurate measures of the internal motion of the member stars. This cluster has also been observed with the 1.5m reflector of the U.S. Naval Observatory and the 0.65m McCormick Observatory refractor. These observations may also become available for the motion study.

  16. The Effect of Selected Cinemagraphic Elements on Audience Perception of Mediated Concepts.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Orr, Quinn

    This study is to explore cinemagraphic and visual elements and their inter-relations through the reinterpretation of previous research and literature. The cinemagraphic elements of visual images (camera angle, camera motion, subject motion, color, and lighting) work as a language requiring a proper grammar for the messages to be conveyed in their…

  17. 10 CFR 2.317 - Separate hearings; consolidation of proceedings.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    .... (a) Separate hearings. On motion by the parties or upon request of the presiding officer for good... it is found that the action will be conducive to the proper dispatch of its business and to the ends...) Consolidation of proceedings. On motion and for good cause shown or on its own initiative, the Commission or the...

  18. Gaia Data Release 1. Open cluster astrometry: performance, limitations, and future prospects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gaia Collaboration; van Leeuwen, F.; Vallenari, A.; Jordi, C.; Lindegren, L.; Bastian, U.; Prusti, T.; de Bruijne, J. H. J.; Brown, A. G. A.; Babusiaux, C.; Bailer-Jones, C. A. L.; Biermann, M.; Evans, D. W.; Eyer, L.; Jansen, F.; Klioner, S. A.; Lammers, U.; Luri, X.; Mignard, F.; Panem, C.; Pourbaix, D.; Randich, S.; Sartoretti, P.; Siddiqui, H. I.; Soubiran, C.; Valette, V.; Walton, N. A.; Aerts, C.; Arenou, F.; Cropper, M.; Drimmel, R.; Høg, E.; Katz, D.; Lattanzi, M. G.; O'Mullane, W.; Grebel, E. K.; Holland, A. D.; Huc, C.; Passot, X.; Perryman, M.; Bramante, L.; Cacciari, C.; Castañeda, J.; Chaoul, L.; Cheek, N.; De Angeli, F.; Fabricius, C.; Guerra, R.; Hernández, J.; Jean-Antoine-Piccolo, A.; Masana, E.; Messineo, R.; Mowlavi, N.; Nienartowicz, K.; Ordóñez-Blanco, D.; Panuzzo, P.; Portell, J.; Richards, P. J.; Riello, M.; Seabroke, G. M.; Tanga, P.; Thévenin, F.; Torra, J.; Els, S. G.; Gracia-Abril, G.; Comoretto, G.; Garcia-Reinaldos, M.; Lock, T.; Mercier, E.; Altmann, M.; Andrae, R.; Astraatmadja, T. L.; Bellas-Velidis, I.; Benson, K.; Berthier, J.; Blomme, R.; Busso, G.; Carry, B.; Cellino, A.; Clementini, G.; Cowell, S.; Creevey, O.; Cuypers, J.; Davidson, M.; De Ridder, J.; de Torres, A.; Delchambre, L.; Dell'Oro, A.; Ducourant, C.; Frémat, Y.; García-Torres, M.; Gosset, E.; Halbwachs, J.-L.; Hambly, N. C.; Harrison, D. L.; Hauser, M.; Hestroffer, D.; Hodgkin, S. T.; Huckle, H. E.; Hutton, A.; Jasniewicz, G.; Jordan, S.; Kontizas, M.; Korn, A. J.; Lanzafame, A. C.; Manteiga, M.; Moitinho, A.; Muinonen, K.; Osinde, J.; Pancino, E.; Pauwels, T.; Petit, J.-M.; Recio-Blanco, A.; Robin, A. C.; Sarro, L. M.; Siopis, C.; Smith, M.; Smith, K. W.; Sozzetti, A.; Thuillot, W.; van Reeven, W.; Viala, Y.; Abbas, U.; Abreu Aramburu, A.; Accart, S.; Aguado, J. J.; Allan, P. M.; Allasia, W.; Altavilla, G.; Álvarez, M. A.; Alves, J.; Anderson, R. I.; Andrei, A. H.; Anglada Varela, E.; Antiche, E.; Antoja, T.; Antón, S.; Arcay, B.; Bach, N.; Baker, S. G.; Balaguer-Núñez, L.; Barache, C.; Barata, C.; Barbier, A.; Barblan, F.; Barrado y Navascués, D.; Barros, M.; Barstow, M. A.; Becciani, U.; Bellazzini, M.; Bello García, A.; Belokurov, V.; Bendjoya, P.; Berihuete, A.; Bianchi, L.; Bienaymé, O.; Billebaud, F.; Blagorodnova, N.; Blanco-Cuaresma, S.; Boch, T.; Bombrun, A.; Borrachero, R.; Bouquillon, S.; Bourda, G.; Bouy, H.; Bragaglia, A.; Breddels, M. A.; Brouillet, N.; Brüsemeister, T.; Bucciarelli, B.; Burgess, P.; Burgon, R.; Burlacu, A.; Busonero, D.; Buzzi, R.; Caffau, E.; Cambras, J.; Campbell, H.; Cancelliere, R.; Cantat-Gaudin, T.; Carlucci, T.; Carrasco, J. M.; Castellani, M.; Charlot, P.; Charnas, J.; Chiavassa, A.; Clotet, M.; Cocozza, G.; Collins, R. S.; Costigan, G.; Crifo, F.; Cross, N. J. G.; Crosta, M.; Crowley, C.; Dafonte, C.; Damerdji, Y.; Dapergolas, A.; David, P.; David, M.; De Cat, P.; de Felice, F.; de Laverny, P.; De Luise, F.; De March, R.; de Martino, D.; de Souza, R.; Debosscher, J.; del Pozo, E.; Delbo, M.; Delgado, A.; Delgado, H. E.; Di Matteo, P.; Diakite, S.; Distefano, E.; Dolding, C.; Dos Anjos, S.; Drazinos, P.; Durán, J.; Dzigan, Y.; Edvardsson, B.; Enke, H.; Evans, N. W.; Eynard Bontemps, G.; Fabre, C.; Fabrizio, M.; Faigler, S.; Falcão, A. J.; Farràs Casas, M.; Federici, L.; Fedorets, G.; Fernández-Hernández, J.; Fernique, P.; Fienga, A.; Figueras, F.; Filippi, F.; Findeisen, K.; Fonti, A.; Fouesneau, M.; Fraile, E.; Fraser, M.; Fuchs, J.; Gai, M.; Galleti, S.; Galluccio, L.; Garabato, D.; García-Sedano, F.; Garofalo, A.; Garralda, N.; Gavras, P.; Gerssen, J.; Geyer, R.; Gilmore, G.; Girona, S.; Giuffrida, G.; Gomes, M.; González-Marcos, A.; González-Núñez, J.; González-Vidal, J. J.; Granvik, M.; Guerrier, A.; Guillout, P.; Guiraud, J.; Gúrpide, A.; Gutiérrez-Sánchez, R.; Guy, L. P.; Haigron, R.; Hatzidimitriou, D.; Haywood, M.; Heiter, U.; Helmi, A.; Hobbs, D.; Hofmann, W.; Holl, B.; Holland, G.; Hunt, J. A. S.; Hypki, A.; Icardi, V.; Irwin, M.; Jevardat de Fombelle, G.; Jofré, P.; Jonker, P. G.; Jorissen, A.; Julbe, F.; Karampelas, A.; Kochoska, A.; Kohley, R.; Kolenberg, K.; Kontizas, E.; Koposov, S. E.; Kordopatis, G.; Koubsky, P.; Krone-Martins, A.; Kudryashova, M.; Kull, I.; Bachchan, R. K.; Lacoste-Seris, F.; Lanza, A. F.; Lavigne, J.-B.; Le Poncin-Lafitte, C.; Lebreton, Y.; Lebzelter, T.; Leccia, S.; Leclerc, N.; Lecoeur-Taibi, I.; Lemaitre, V.; Lenhardt, H.; Leroux, F.; Liao, S.; Licata, E.; Lindstrøm, H. E. P.; Lister, T. A.; Livanou, E.; Lobel, A.; Löffler, W.; López, M.; Lorenz, D.; MacDonald, I.; Magalhães Fernandes, T.; Managau, S.; Mann, R. G.; Mantelet, G.; Marchal, O.; Marchant, J. M.; Marconi, M.; Marinoni, S.; Marrese, P. M.; Marschalkó, G.; Marshall, D. J.; Martín-Fleitas, J. M.; Martino, M.; Mary, N.; Matijevič, G.; Mazeh, T.; McMillan, P. J.; Messina, S.; Michalik, D.; Millar, N. R.; Miranda, B. M. H.; Molina, D.; Molinaro, R.; Molinaro, M.; Molnár, L.; Moniez, M.; Montegriffo, P.; Mor, R.; Mora, A.; Morbidelli, R.; Morel, T.; Morgenthaler, S.; Morris, D.; Mulone, A. F.; Muraveva, T.; Musella, I.; Narbonne, J.; Nelemans, G.; Nicastro, L.; Noval, L.; Ordénovic, C.; Ordieres-Meré, J.; Osborne, P.; Pagani, C.; Pagano, I.; Pailler, F.; Palacin, H.; Palaversa, L.; Parsons, P.; Pecoraro, M.; Pedrosa, R.; Pentikäinen, H.; Pichon, B.; Piersimoni, A. M.; Pineau, F.-X.; Plachy, E.; Plum, G.; Poujoulet, E.; Prša, A.; Pulone, L.; Ragaini, S.; Rago, S.; Rambaux, N.; Ramos-Lerate, M.; Ranalli, P.; Rauw, G.; Read, A.; Regibo, S.; Reylé, C.; Ribeiro, R. A.; Rimoldini, L.; Ripepi, V.; Riva, A.; Rixon, G.; Roelens, M.; Romero-Gómez, M.; Rowell, N.; Royer, F.; Ruiz-Dern, L.; Sadowski, G.; Sagristà Sellés, T.; Sahlmann, J.; Salgado, J.; Salguero, E.; Sarasso, M.; Savietto, H.; Schultheis, M.; Sciacca, E.; Segol, M.; Segovia, J. C.; Segransan, D.; Shih, I.-C.; Smareglia, R.; Smart, R. L.; Solano, E.; Solitro, F.; Sordo, R.; Soria Nieto, S.; Souchay, J.; Spagna, A.; Spoto, F.; Stampa, U.; Steele, I. A.; Steidelmüller, H.; Stephenson, C. A.; Stoev, H.; Suess, F. F.; Süveges, M.; Surdej, J.; Szabados, L.; Szegedi-Elek, E.; Tapiador, D.; Taris, F.; Tauran, G.; Taylor, M. B.; Teixeira, R.; Terrett, D.; Tingley, B.; Trager, S. C.; Turon, C.; Ulla, A.; Utrilla, E.; Valentini, G.; van Elteren, A.; Van Hemelryck, E.; vanLeeuwen, M.; Varadi, M.; Vecchiato, A.; Veljanoski, J.; Via, T.; Vicente, D.; Vogt, S.; Voss, H.; Votruba, V.; Voutsinas, S.; Walmsley, G.; Weiler, M.; Weingrill, K.; Wevers, T.; Wyrzykowski, Ł.; Yoldas, A.; Žerjal, M.; Zucker, S.; Zurbach, C.; Zwitter, T.; Alecu, A.; Allen, M.; Allende Prieto, C.; Amorim, A.; Anglada-Escudé, G.; Arsenijevic, V.; Azaz, S.; Balm, P.; Beck, M.; Bernstein, H.-H.; Bigot, L.; Bijaoui, A.; Blasco, C.; Bonfigli, M.; Bono, G.; Boudreault, S.; Bressan, A.; Brown, S.; Brunet, P.-M.; Bunclark, P.; Buonanno, R.; Butkevich, A. G.; Carret, C.; Carrion, C.; Chemin, L.; Chéreau, F.; Corcione, L.; Darmigny, E.; de Boer, K. S.; de Teodoro, P.; de Zeeuw, P. T.; Delle Luche, C.; Domingues, C. D.; Dubath, P.; Fodor, F.; Frézouls, B.; Fries, A.; Fustes, D.; Fyfe, D.; Gallardo, E.; Gallegos, J.; Gardiol, D.; Gebran, M.; Gomboc, A.; Gómez, A.; Grux, E.; Gueguen, A.; Heyrovsky, A.; Hoar, J.; Iannicola, G.; Isasi Parache, Y.; Janotto, A.-M.; Joliet, E.; Jonckheere, A.; Keil, R.; Kim, D.-W.; Klagyivik, P.; Klar, J.; Knude, J.; Kochukhov, O.; Kolka, I.; Kos, J.; Kutka, A.; Lainey, V.; LeBouquin, D.; Liu, C.; Loreggia, D.; Makarov, V. V.; Marseille, M. G.; Martayan, C.; Martinez-Rubi, O.; Massart, B.; Meynadier, F.; Mignot, S.; Munari, U.; Nguyen, A.-T.; Nordlander, T.; O'Flaherty, K. S.; Ocvirk, P.; Olias Sanz, A.; Ortiz, P.; Osorio, J.; Oszkiewicz, D.; Ouzounis, A.; Palmer, M.; Park, P.; Pasquato, E.; Peltzer, C.; Peralta, J.; Péturaud, F.; Pieniluoma, T.; Pigozzi, E.; Poels, J.; Prat, G.; Prod'homme, T.; Raison, F.; Rebordao, J. M.; Risquez, D.; Rocca-Volmerange, B.; Rosen, S.; Ruiz-Fuertes, M. I.; Russo, F.; Sembay, S.; Serraller Vizcaino, I.; Short, A.; Siebert, A.; Silva, H.; Sinachopoulos, D.; Slezak, E.; Soffel, M.; Sosnowska, D.; Straižys, V.; ter Linden, M.; Terrell, D.; Theil, S.; Tiede, C.; Troisi, L.; Tsalmantza, P.; Tur, D.; Vaccari, M.; Vachier, F.; Valles, P.; Van Hamme, W.; Veltz, L.; Virtanen, J.; Wallut, J.-M.; Wichmann, R.; Wilkinson, M. I.; Ziaeepour, H.; Zschocke, S.

    2017-05-01

    Context. The first Gaia Data Release contains the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS). This is a subset of about 2 million stars for which, besides the position and photometry, the proper motion and parallax are calculated using Hipparcos and Tycho-2 positions in 1991.25 as prior information. Aims: We investigate the scientific potential and limitations of the TGAS component by means of the astrometric data for open clusters. Methods: Mean cluster parallax and proper motion values are derived taking into account the error correlations within the astrometric solutions for individual stars, an estimate of the internal velocity dispersion in the cluster, and, where relevant, the effects of the depth of the cluster along the line of sight. Internal consistency of the TGAS data is assessed. Results: Values given for standard uncertainties are still inaccurate and may lead to unrealistic unit-weight standard deviations of least squares solutions for cluster parameters. Reconstructed mean cluster parallax and proper motion values are generally in very good agreement with earlier Hipparcos-based determination, although the Gaia mean parallax for the Pleiades is a significant exception. We have no current explanation for that discrepancy. Most clusters are observed to extend to nearly 15 pc from the cluster centre, and it will be up to future Gaia releases to establish whether those potential cluster-member stars are still dynamically bound to the clusters. Conclusions: The Gaia DR1 provides the means to examine open clusters far beyond their more easily visible cores, and can provide membership assessments based on proper motions and parallaxes. A combined HR diagram shows the same features as observed before using the Hipparcos data, with clearly increased luminosities for older A and F dwarfs. Tables D.1 to D.19 are also available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/601/A19

  19. MERLIN observations of water maser proper motions in VY Canis Majoris

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Richards, A. M. S.; Yates, J. A.; Cohen, R. J.

    1998-09-01

    MERLIN observations of the 22-GHz water masers in the circumstellar envelope of the supergiant VY CMa show an ellipsoidal distribution with a maximum extent of 700 mas east-west and 400 mas north-south. Comparison with observations made nine years earlier shows that the majority of maser features have survived and show proper motions throughout the region. The mean change in position is 28 mas and the proper motions are generally directed away from the assumed stellar position, and tend to be larger for features at greater projected distances. If the H_2O maser region is modelled as a partially filled thick spherical shell, and VY CMa is at a distance of 1.5 kpc, then the proper motion velocities in the direction of expansion are between 8kms^-1 at a distance of 75 mas from the assumed stellar position and 32kms^-1 at 360 mas. These velocities are consistent with the H_2O maser spectral line velocities which correspond to a maximum expansion velocity of 36kms^-1 at 400 mas from the assumed stellar position. These observations are consistent with radiation pressure on dust providing the force to accelerate the stellar wind as it passes through the H_2O maser shell. The H_2O maser region is elongated in the same direction as the dusty nebula around VY CMa. The water masers illuminate the small-scale dynamics and clumpiness which show the role of dust in driving the outflow. The overall ellipsoidal shape may be due to properties of the dust, such as its behaviour in the stellar magnetic field, or to interaction between the wind and circumstellar material. Maser monitoring also shows the difference between changes on the time-scale of stellar variability (a few years) and possible stages in the evolution of VY CMa to its likely fate as a supernova.

  20. Overlooked wide companions of nearby F stars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scholz, R.-D.

    2016-03-01

    Aims: We checked a sample of 545 F stars within 50 pc for wide companions using existing near-infrared and optical sky surveys. Methods: Applying the common proper motion (CPM) criterion, we detected wide companion candidates with 6-120 arcsec angular separations by visual inspection of multi-epoch finder charts and by searching in proper motion catalogues. Final proper motions were measured by involving positional measurements from up to eleven surveys. Spectral types of red CPM companions were estimated from their absolute J-band magnitudes based on the Hipparcos distances of the primaries. Results: In addition to about 100 known CPM objects, we found 19 new CPM companions and confirmed 31 previously known candidates. A few CPM objects are still considered as candidates according to their level of proper motion agreement. Among the new objects there are nine M0-M4, eight M5-M6, one ≈L3.5 dwarf (HD 3861B), and one white dwarf (WD) (HD 2726B), whereas we confirmed two K, 19 M0-M4, six M5-M6, two early-L dwarfs, and two DA WDs as CPM companions. In a few cases, previous spectral types were available that all agree well with our estimates. Two companions (HD 22879B and HD 49933B) are associated with moderately metal-poor Gaia benchmark stars. One doubtful CPM companion, spectroscopically classified as WD but found to be very bright (J = 11.1) by others, should either be a very nearby foreground WD or a different kind of object associated with HD 165670. Tables A.1, B.1, and C.1 are also available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/587/A51

  1. Photometry and Proper Motions of M, L, and T Dwarfs from the Pan-STARRS1 3π Survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Best, William M. J.; Magnier, Eugene A.; Liu, Michael C.; Aller, Kimberly M.; Zhang, Zhoujian; Burgett, W. S.; Chambers, K. C.; Draper, P.; Flewelling, H.; Kaiser, N.; Kudritzki, R.-P.; Metcalfe, N.; Tonry, J. L.; Wainscoat, R. J.; Waters, C.

    2018-01-01

    We present a catalog of 9888 M, L and T dwarfs detected in the Pan-STARRS1 3π Survey (PS1), covering three-quarters of the sky. Our catalog contains nearly all known objects of spectral types L0–T2 in the PS1 field, with objects as early as M0 and as late as T9, and includes PS1, 2MASS, AllWISE, and Gaia DR1 photometry. We analyze the different types of photometry reported by PS1 and use two types in our catalog in order to maximize both depth and accuracy. Using parallaxes from the literature, we construct empirical SEDs for field ultracool dwarfs spanning 0.5–12 μm. We determine typical colors of M0–T9 dwarfs and highlight the distinctive colors of subdwarfs and young objects. We combine astrometry from PS1, 2MASS, and Gaia DR1 to calculate new proper motions for our catalog. We achieve a median precision of 2.9 mas yr‑1, a factor of ≈3‑10 improvement over previous large catalogs. Our catalog contains proper motions for 2405 M6–T9 dwarfs and includes the largest set of homogeneous proper motions for L and T dwarfs published to date, 406 objects for which there were no previous measurements, and 1176 objects for which we improve upon previous literature values. We analyze the kinematics of ultracool dwarfs in our catalog and find evidence that bluer but otherwise generic late-M and L field dwarfs (i.e., not subdwarfs) tend to have tangential velocities higher than those of typical field objects. With the public release of the PS1 data, this survey will continue to be an essential tool for characterizing the ultracool dwarf population.

  2. Gaia Data Release 1. Astrometry: one billion positions, two million proper motions and parallaxes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lindegren, L.; Lammers, U.; Bastian, U.; Hernández, J.; Klioner, S.; Hobbs, D.; Bombrun, A.; Michalik, D.; Ramos-Lerate, M.; Butkevich, A.; Comoretto, G.; Joliet, E.; Holl, B.; Hutton, A.; Parsons, P.; Steidelmüller, H.; Abbas, U.; Altmann, M.; Andrei, A.; Anton, S.; Bach, N.; Barache, C.; Becciani, U.; Berthier, J.; Bianchi, L.; Biermann, M.; Bouquillon, S.; Bourda, G.; Brüsemeister, T.; Bucciarelli, B.; Busonero, D.; Carlucci, T.; Castañeda, J.; Charlot, P.; Clotet, M.; Crosta, M.; Davidson, M.; de Felice, F.; Drimmel, R.; Fabricius, C.; Fienga, A.; Figueras, F.; Fraile, E.; Gai, M.; Garralda, N.; Geyer, R.; González-Vidal, J. J.; Guerra, R.; Hambly, N. C.; Hauser, M.; Jordan, S.; Lattanzi, M. G.; Lenhardt, H.; Liao, S.; Löffler, W.; McMillan, P. J.; Mignard, F.; Mora, A.; Morbidelli, R.; Portell, J.; Riva, A.; Sarasso, M.; Serraller, I.; Siddiqui, H.; Smart, R.; Spagna, A.; Stampa, U.; Steele, I.; Taris, F.; Torra, J.; van Reeven, W.; Vecchiato, A.; Zschocke, S.; de Bruijne, J.; Gracia, G.; Raison, F.; Lister, T.; Marchant, J.; Messineo, R.; Soffel, M.; Osorio, J.; de Torres, A.; O'Mullane, W.

    2016-11-01

    Context. Gaia Data Release 1 (DR1) contains astrometric results for more than 1 billion stars brighter than magnitude 20.7 based on observations collected by the Gaia satellite during the first 14 months of its operational phase. Aims: We give a brief overview of the astrometric content of the data release and of the model assumptions, data processing, and validation of the results. Methods: For stars in common with the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues, complete astrometric single-star solutions are obtained by incorporating positional information from the earlier catalogues. For other stars only their positions are obtained, essentially by neglecting their proper motions and parallaxes. The results are validated by an analysis of the residuals, through special validation runs, and by comparison with external data. Results: For about two million of the brighter stars (down to magnitude 11.5) we obtain positions, parallaxes, and proper motions to Hipparcos-type precision or better. For these stars, systematic errors depending for example on position and colour are at a level of ± 0.3 milliarcsecond (mas). For the remaining stars we obtain positions at epoch J2015.0 accurate to 10 mas. Positions and proper motions are given in a reference frame that is aligned with the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) to better than 0.1 mas at epoch J2015.0, and non-rotating with respect to ICRF to within 0.03 mas yr-1. The Hipparcos reference frame is found to rotate with respect to the Gaia DR1 frame at a rate of 0.24 mas yr-1. Conclusions: Based on less than a quarter of the nominal mission length and on very provisional and incomplete calibrations, the quality and completeness of the astrometric data in Gaia DR1 are far from what is expected for the final mission products. The present results nevertheless represent a huge improvement in the available fundamental stellar data and practical definition of the optical reference frame.

  3. The Full-sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer - Astrometry for the New Millennium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Horner, S. D.; Germain, M. E.; Greene, T. P.; Harris, F. H.; Johnson, M. S.; Johnson, K. J.; Monet, D. G.; Murison, M. A.; Phillips, J. D.; Reasenberg, R. D.; Seidelmann, P. K.; Urban, S. E.; Vassar, R. H.

    FAME is designed to perform an all-sky, astrometric survey with unprecedented accuracy. It will create a rigid astrometric catalog of ~40,000,000 stars with visual band magnitudes 5 < V < 15. For bright stars, 5 < V < 9, FAME will determine positions and parallaxes accurate to < 50 microarcseconds, with proper motion errors < 50 microarcseconds/year. For fainter stars, 9 < V < 15, FAME will determine positions and parallaxes accurate to < 300 microarcseconds, with proper motion errors < 300 microarcseconds/year. It will also collect photometric data on these 40,000,000 stars in four Sloan DSS colors. The FAME data will provide a rigid, accurate, optical, astrometric grid. The proper motion data, combined with Hipparcos and other data should be ideal for use by the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) to select its astrometric reference grid stars. FAME will also identify stars with nonlinear proper motions as candidates for further study by SIM, Terrestrial Planet Finder, and future ground based interferometers as possible planetary systems. The fundamental astrometric data provided at relatively low cost by FAME will help optimize the scientific return from these future projects. This is in addition to the considerable direct scientific return from FAME. It will redefine the extragalactic distance scale and provide a large, rich database of information on stellar properties that will enable numerous science investigations into stellar structure and evolution, the dynamics of the Milky Way, and stellar companions including brown dwarfs and giant planets. NASA has selected the Full-sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer (FAME) to be one of five MIDEX missions to be funded for a concept study. This concept study will be submitted to NASA on 18 June, with final selection, scheduled for September, of two of these missions for fli ght in 2003 or 2004. FAME is a joint development e ffort of the U.S. Naval Observatory, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space, the Naval Research Laboratory, and Omitron Incorporated.

  4. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of variable stars in open clusters (Zejda+, 2012)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zejda, M.; Paunzen, E.; Baumann, B.; Mikulasek, Z.; Liska, J.

    2012-08-01

    The catalogue of variable stars in open clusters were prepared by cross-matching of Variable Stars Index (http://www.aavso.org/vsx) version Apr 29, 2012 (available online, Cat. B/vsx) against the version 3.1. catalogue of open clusters DAML02 (Dias et al. 2002A&A...389..871D, Cat. B/ocl) available on the website http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~wilton. The open clusters were divided into two categories according to their size, where the limiting diameter was 60 arcmin. The list of all suspected variables and variable stars located within the fields of open clusters up to two times of given cluster radius were generated (Table 1). 8938 and 9127 variable stars are given in 461 "smaller" and 74 "larger" clusters, respectively. All found variable stars were matched against the PPMXL catalog of positions and proper motions within the ICRS (Roeser et al., 2010AJ....139.2440R, Cat. I/317). Proper motion data were included in our catalogue. Unfortunately, a homogeneous data set of mean cluster proper motions has not been available until now. Therefore we used the following sources (sorted alphabetically) to compile a new catalogue: Baumgardt et al. (2000, Cat. J/A+AS/146/251): based on the Hipparcos catalogue Beshenov & Loktin (2004A&AT...23..103B): based on the Tycho-2 catalogue Dias et al. (2001, Cat. J/A+A/376/441, 2002A&A...389..871D, Cat. B/ocl): based on the Tycho-2 catalogue Dias et al. (2006, Cat. J/A+A/446/949): based on the UCAC2 catalog (Zacharias et al., 2004AJ....127.3043Z, Cat. I/289) Frinchaboy & Majewski (2008, Cat. J/AJ/136/118): based on the Tycho-2 catalogue Kharchenko et al. (2005, J/A+A/438/1163): based on the ASCC2.5 catalogue (Kharchenko, 2001KFNT...17..409K, Cat. I/280) Krone-Martins et al. (2010, Cat. J/A+A/516/A3): based on the Bordeaux PM2000 proper motion catalogue (Ducourant et al., 2006A&A...448.1235D, Cat. I/300) Robichon et al. (1999, Cat. J/A+A/345/471): based on the Hipparcos catalogue van Leeuwen (2009A&A...497..209V): based on the new Hipparcos catalogue. In total, a catalogue of proper motions for 879 open clusters (Table 2), from which 436 have more than one available measurement, was compiled. (3 data files).

  5. Man-in-the-loop study of filtering in airborne head tracking tasks

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lifshitz, S.; Merhav, S. J.

    1992-01-01

    A human-factors study is conducted of problems due to vibrations during the use of a helmet-mounted display (HMD) in tracking tasks whose major factors are target motion and head vibration. A method is proposed for improving aiming accuracy in such tracking tasks on the basis of (1) head-motion measurement and (2) the shifting of the reticle in the HMD in ways that inhibit much of the involuntary apparent motion of the reticle, relative to the target, and the nonvoluntary motion of the teleoperated device. The HMD inherently furnishes the visual feedback required by this scheme.

  6. Correlation of Experimental and Theoretical Steady-State Spinning Motion for a Current Fighter Airplane Using Rotation-Balance Aerodynamic Data

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-07-01

    were input into the computer program. The program was numerically intergrated with time by using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta integration algorithm with...equations of motion are numerically intergrated to provide time histories of the aircraft spinning motion. A.2 EQUATIONS DEFINING THE FORCE AND MOMENT...by Cy or Cn. 50 AE DC-TR-77-126 A . 4 where EQUATIONS FOR TRANSFERRING AERODYNAMIC DATA INPUTS TO THE PROPER HORIZONTAL CENTER OF GRAVITY

  7. Long-term observations of the pulsars in 47 Tucanae - II. Proper motions, accelerations and jerks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Freire, P. C. C.; Ridolfi, A.; Kramer, M.; Jordan, C.; Manchester, R. N.; Torne, P.; Sarkissian, J.; Heinke, C. O.; D'Amico, N.; Camilo, F.; Lorimer, D. R.; Lyne, A. G.

    2017-10-01

    This paper is the second in a series where we report the results of the long-term timing of the millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in 47 Tucanae with the Parkes 64-m radio telescope. We obtain improved timing parameters that provide additional information for studies of the cluster dynamics: (a) the pulsar proper motions yield an estimate of the proper motion of the cluster as a whole (μα = 5.00 ± 0.14 mas yr - 1, μδ = - 2.84 ± 0.12 mas yr - 1) and the motion of the pulsars relative to each other. (b) We measure the second spin-period derivatives caused by the change of the pulsar line-of-sight accelerations; 47 Tuc H, U and possibly J are being affected by nearby objects. (c) For 10 binary systems, we now measure changes in the orbital period caused by their acceleration in the gravitational field of the cluster. From all these measurements, we derive a cluster distance no smaller than ˜4.69 kpc and show that the characteristics of these MSPs are very similar to their counterparts in the Galactic disc. We find no evidence in favour of an intermediate mass black hole at the centre of the cluster. Finally, we describe the orbital behaviour of four 'black widow' systems. Two of them, 47 Tuc J and O, exhibit orbital variability similar to that observed in other such systems, while for 47 Tuc I and R the orbits seem to be remarkably stable. It appears therefore that not all 'black widows' have unpredictable orbital behaviour.

  8. The Mass of the Milky Way via HST Proper Motions of Satellite Objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sohn, Sangmo Tony; van der Marel, Roeland

    2018-01-01

    The Universe evolves hierarchically with small structures merging and falling in to form bigger structures. Due to its proximity, the Milky Way (MW) is the best place to witness and study these hierarchical processes in action as evidenced by e.g., the many stellar streams found in MW halo. Stellar systems in the MW halo have therefore become the benchmark for testing many aspects of cosmological theories. Despite the advances in both observational and theoretical areas in the last decade or so, the total mass and mass profile of the MW still remain poorly constrained, mainly due to the limited information on the transverse motions of satellite objects in the MW halo. As part of our HSTPROMO collaboration, we have been measuring proper motions of stars, globular clusters, and satellite galaxies in the MW halo to remedy this situation. In this contribution, I will present results from our recent studies, and report our progress of ongoing projects.

  9. Potential Direct Single-Star Mass Measurement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ghosh, H.; DePoy, D. L.; Gal-Yam, A.; Gaudi, B. S.; Gould, A.; Han, C.; Lipkin, Y.; Maoz, D.; Ofek, E. O.; Park, B.-G.; Pogge, R. W.; Salim, S.; Mu Fun Collaboration; Abe, F.; Bennett, D. P.; Bond, I. A.; Eguchi, S.; Furuta, Y.; Hearnshaw, J. B.; Kamiya, K.; Kilmartin, P. M.; Kurata, Y.; Masuda, K.; Matsubara, Y.; Muraki, Y.; Noda, S.; Okajima, K.; Rattenbury, N. J.; Sako, T.; Sekiguchi, T.; Sullivan, D. J.; Sumi, T.; Tristram, P. J.; Yanagisawa, T.; Yock, P. C. M.; MOA Collaboration; Udalski, A.; Soszyński, I.; Wyrzykowski, Ł.; Kubiak, M.; Szymański, M. K.; Pietrzyński, G.; Szewczyk, O.; Żebruń, K.; OGLE Collaboration; Albrow, M. D.; Beaulieu, J.-P.; Caldwell, J. A. R.; Cassan, A.; Coutures, C.; Dominik, M.; Donatowicz, J.; Fouqué, P.; Greenhill, J.; Hill, K.; Horne, K.; Jørgensen, U. G.; Kane, S.; Kubas, D.; Martin, R.; Menzies, J.; Pollard, K. R.; Sahu, K. C.; Wambsganss, J.; Watson, R.; Williams, A.; PLANET Collaboration

    2004-11-01

    We analyze the light curve of the microlensing event OGLE-2003-BLG-175/MOA-2003-BLG-45 and show that it has two properties that, when combined with future high-resolution astrometry, could lead to a direct, accurate measurement of the lens mass. First, the light curve shows clear signs of distortion due to the Earth's accelerated motion, which yields a measurement of the projected Einstein radius rE. Second, from precise astrometric measurements, we show that the blended light in the event is coincident with the microlensed source to within about 15 mas. This argues strongly that this blended light is the lens and hence opens the possibility of directly measuring the lens-source relative proper motion μrel and so the mass M=(c2/4G)μreltErE, where tE is the measured Einstein timescale. While the light-curve-based measurement of rE is, by itself, severely degenerate, we show that this degeneracy can be completely resolved by measuring the direction of proper motion μrel.

  10. Arcturus and the Bears

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Antonello, E.

    2009-08-01

    Arcturus is the brightest star in Bootes. The ancient Greek name Arktouros means Bear Guard. The star, however, is not close to Ursa Maior (Big She-Bear) and Ursa Minor (Little She-Bear), as the name would suggest. This curious discrepancy could be explained by the star proper motion, assuming the name Bear Guard is a remote cultural heritage. The proper motion analysis could allow us to get an insight also into an ancient myth regarding Ursa Maior. Though we cannot explain scientifically such a myth, some interesting suggestions can be obtained about its possible origin, in the context of the present knowledge of the importance of the cult of the bear both during the Palaeolithic times and for several primitive populations of modern times, as shown by the ethnological studies.

  11. BANYAN_Sigma: Bayesian classifier for members of young stellar associations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gagné, Jonathan; Mamajek, Eric E.; Malo, Lison; Riedel, Adric; Rodriguez, David; Lafrenière, David; Faherty, Jacqueline K.; Roy-Loubier, Olivier; Pueyo, Laurent; Robin, Annie C.; Doyon, René

    2018-01-01

    BANYAN_Sigma calculates the membership probability that a given astrophysical object belongs to one of the currently known 27 young associations within 150 pc of the Sun, using Bayesian inference. This tool uses the sky position and proper motion measurements of an object, with optional radial velocity (RV) and distance (D) measurements, to derive a Bayesian membership probability. By default, the priors are adjusted such that a probability threshold of 90% will recover 50%, 68%, 82% or 90% of true association members depending on what observables are input (only sky position and proper motion, with RV, with D, with both RV and D, respectively). The algorithm is implemented in a Python package, in IDL, and is also implemented as an interactive web page.

  12. A Common Proper Motion Stellar Companion to HAT-P-7

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Grady, Carol A.; McElwain, Michael W.; Narita, Norio; Takahashi, Yasuhiro H.; Kuzuhara, Masayuki; Hirano, Teruyuki; Suenaga, Takuya

    2012-01-01

    We report that HAT-P-7 has a common proper motion stellar companion. The companion is located at approx. 3.9 arcsec to the east and estimated as an M5.5V dwarf based on its colors. We also confirm the presence of the third companion, which was first reported by Winn et al. (2009), based on long-term radial velocity measurements. We revisit the migration mechanism of HAT-P-7b given the presence of those companions, and propose sequential Kozai migration as a likely scenario in this system. This scenario may explain the reason for an outlier in the discussion of the spin-orbit alignment timescale for HAT-P-7b by Albrecht et al. (2012).

  13. White Dwarfs in Gaia Data Release 1

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jordan, S.

    2017-03-01

    On September 14, the Gaia archives opened for access to the Gaia DR1. The catalogue with more than one billion star positions and more than two million parallaxes and proper motions will have enormous influence on many topics in astronomy. However, due to their extremely blue colour, parallaxes and proper motions of only six white dwarfs were directly measured. Tremblay et al. used these data and those for 46 white dwarfs in binaries in order to construct an empirical mass-radius relation. As it was the case for Hipparcos, the precision of the data does not allow for the characterisation of hydrogen envelope masses. With Gaia DR2 coming in late 2017 the prospects for white dwarf research are much better.

  14. Jonckheere Double Star Photometry – Part IX: Sagitta

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Knapp, Wilfried

    2018-01-01

    If any double star discoverer is in urgent need of photometry then it is Jonckheere. There are over 3000 Jonckheere objects listed in the WDS catalog and a good part with magnitudes obviously far too bright. This report covers a part of the Jonckheere objects in the constellation Sagitta including a check if physical by means of UCAC5 proper motion data. In most cases only one image per object is taken for differential photometry as even a single image based measurement is better than the currently often given mere estimation. As by-product a new CPM candidate pair was discovered and as appendix the UCAC5 proper motion data quality was counter-checked with GAIA DR1 (TGAS).

  15. The effect of regularization in motion compensated PET image reconstruction: a realistic numerical 4D simulation study.

    PubMed

    Tsoumpas, C; Polycarpou, I; Thielemans, K; Buerger, C; King, A P; Schaeffter, T; Marsden, P K

    2013-03-21

    Following continuous improvement in PET spatial resolution, respiratory motion correction has become an important task. Two of the most common approaches that utilize all detected PET events to motion-correct PET data are the reconstruct-transform-average method (RTA) and motion-compensated image reconstruction (MCIR). In RTA, separate images are reconstructed for each respiratory frame, subsequently transformed to one reference frame and finally averaged to produce a motion-corrected image. In MCIR, the projection data from all frames are reconstructed by including motion information in the system matrix so that a motion-corrected image is reconstructed directly. Previous theoretical analyses have explained why MCIR is expected to outperform RTA. It has been suggested that MCIR creates less noise than RTA because the images for each separate respiratory frame will be severely affected by noise. However, recent investigations have shown that in the unregularized case RTA images can have fewer noise artefacts, while MCIR images are more quantitatively accurate but have the common salt-and-pepper noise. In this paper, we perform a realistic numerical 4D simulation study to compare the advantages gained by including regularization within reconstruction for RTA and MCIR, in particular using the median-root-prior incorporated in the ordered subsets maximum a posteriori one-step-late algorithm. In this investigation we have demonstrated that MCIR with proper regularization parameters reconstructs lesions with less bias and root mean square error and similar CNR and standard deviation to regularized RTA. This finding is reproducible for a variety of noise levels (25, 50, 100 million counts), lesion sizes (8 mm, 14 mm diameter) and iterations. Nevertheless, regularized RTA can also be a practical solution for motion compensation as a proper level of regularization reduces both bias and mean square error.

  16. Back from the future: Volitional postdiction of perceived apparent motion direction.

    PubMed

    Sun, Liwei; Frank, Sebastian M; Hartstein, Kevin C; Hassan, Wassim; Tse, Peter U

    2017-11-01

    Among physical events, it is impossible that an event could alter its own past for the simple reason that past events precede future events, and not vice versa. Moreover, to do so would invoke impossible self-causation. However, mental events are constructed by physical neuronal processes that take a finite duration to execute. Given this fact, it is conceivable that later brain events could alter the ongoing interpretation of previous brain events if they arrive within this finite duration of interpretive processing, before a commitment is made to what happened. In the current study, we show that humans can volitionally influence how they perceive an ambiguous apparent motion sequence, as long as the top-down command occurs up to 300ms after the occurrence of the actual motion event in the world. This finding supports the view that there is a temporal integration period over which perception is constructed on the basis of both bottom-up and top-down inputs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Falcons pursue prey using visual motion cues: new perspectives from animal-borne cameras

    PubMed Central

    Kane, Suzanne Amador; Zamani, Marjon

    2014-01-01

    This study reports on experiments on falcons wearing miniature videocameras mounted on their backs or heads while pursuing flying prey. Videos of hunts by a gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), gyrfalcon (F. rusticolus)/Saker falcon (F. cherrug) hybrids and peregrine falcons (F. peregrinus) were analyzed to determine apparent prey positions on their visual fields during pursuits. These video data were then interpreted using computer simulations of pursuit steering laws observed in insects and mammals. A comparison of the empirical and modeling data indicates that falcons use cues due to the apparent motion of prey on the falcon's visual field to track and capture flying prey via a form of motion camouflage. The falcons also were found to maintain their prey's image at visual angles consistent with using their shallow fovea. These results should prove relevant for understanding the co-evolution of pursuit and evasion, as well as the development of computer models of predation and the integration of sensory and locomotion systems in biomimetic robots. PMID:24431144

  18. Falcons pursue prey using visual motion cues: new perspectives from animal-borne cameras.

    PubMed

    Kane, Suzanne Amador; Zamani, Marjon

    2014-01-15

    This study reports on experiments on falcons wearing miniature videocameras mounted on their backs or heads while pursuing flying prey. Videos of hunts by a gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), gyrfalcon (F. rusticolus)/Saker falcon (F. cherrug) hybrids and peregrine falcons (F. peregrinus) were analyzed to determine apparent prey positions on their visual fields during pursuits. These video data were then interpreted using computer simulations of pursuit steering laws observed in insects and mammals. A comparison of the empirical and modeling data indicates that falcons use cues due to the apparent motion of prey on the falcon's visual field to track and capture flying prey via a form of motion camouflage. The falcons also were found to maintain their prey's image at visual angles consistent with using their shallow fovea. These results should prove relevant for understanding the co-evolution of pursuit and evasion, as well as the development of computer models of predation and the integration of sensory and locomotion systems in biomimetic robots.

  19. Perfect 3-D movies and stereoscopic movies on TV and projection screens: an appraisement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Klein, Susanne; Dultz, Wolfgang

    1990-09-01

    Since the invention of stereoscopy (WHEATSTONE 1838) reasons for and against 3-dimensional images have occupied the literature, but there has never been much doubt about the preference of autostereoscopic systems showing a scene which is 3-dimensional and true to life from all sides (perfect 3-dimensional image, HESSE 1939), especially since most stereoscopic movies of the past show serious imperfections with respect to image quality and technical operation. Leave aside that no convincing perfect 3D-TV-system is in sight, there are properties f the stereoscopic movie which are advantageous to certain representations on TV and important for the 3-dimensional motion picture. In this paper we investigate the influence of apparent motions of 3-dimensional images and classify the different projection systems with respect to presence and absence of these spectacular illusions. Apparent motions bring dramatic effects into stereoscopic movies which cannot be created with perfect 3-dimensional systems. In this study we describe their applications and limits for television.

  20. Bilateral filter regularized accelerated Demons for improved discontinuity preserving registration.

    PubMed

    Demirović, D; Šerifović-Trbalić, A; Prljača, N; Cattin, Ph C

    2015-03-01

    The classical accelerated Demons algorithm uses Gaussian smoothing to penalize oscillatory motion in the displacement fields during registration. This well known method uses the L2 norm for regularization. Whereas the L2 norm is known for producing well behaving smooth deformation fields it cannot properly deal with discontinuities often seen in the deformation field as the regularizer cannot differentiate between discontinuities and smooth part of motion field. In this paper we propose replacement the Gaussian filter of the accelerated Demons with a bilateral filter. In contrast the bilateral filter not only uses information from displacement field but also from the image intensities. In this way we can smooth the motion field depending on image content as opposed to the classical Gaussian filtering. By proper adjustment of two tunable parameters one can obtain more realistic deformations in a case of discontinuity. The proposed approach was tested on 2D and 3D datasets and showed significant improvements in the Target Registration Error (TRE) for the well known POPI dataset. Despite the increased computational complexity, the improved registration result is justified in particular abdominal data sets where discontinuities often appear due to sliding organ motion. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Characteristics of Reduction Gear in Electric Agricultural Vehicle

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choi, W. S.; Pratama, P. S.; Supeno, D.; Jeong, S. W.; Byun, J. Y.; Woo, J. H.; Lee, E. S.; Park, C. S.

    2018-03-01

    In electric agricultural machine a reduction gear is needed to convert the high speed rotation motion generated by DC motor to lower speed rotation motion used by the vehicle. The reduction gear consists of several spur gears. Spur gears are the most easily visualized gears that transmit motion between two parallel shafts and easy to produce. The modelling and simulation of spur gears in DC motor reduction gear is important to predict the actual motion behaviour. A pair of spur gear tooth in action is generally subjected to two types of cyclic stress: contact stress and bending stress. The stress may not attain their maximum values at the same point of contact fatigue. These types of failure can be minimized by analysis of the problem during the design stage and creating proper tooth surface profile with proper manufacturing methods. To improve its life expectation in this study modal and stress analysis of reduction gear is simulated using ANSYS workbench based on finite element method (FEM). The modal analysis was done to understand reduction gear deformation behaviour when vibration occurs. FEM static stress analysis is also simulated on reduction gear to simulate the gear teeth bending stress and contact stress behaviour.

  2. HP-9810A calculator programs for plotting the 2-dimensional motion of cyclindrical payloads relative to the shuttle orbiter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, S. W.

    1976-01-01

    The HP-9810A calculator programs described provide the capability to generate HP-9862A plotter displays which depict the apparent motion of a free-flying cyclindrical payload relative to the shuttle orbiter body axes by projecting the payload geometry into the orbiter plane of symmetry at regular time intervals.

  3. Altered perception of apparent motion in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

    PubMed

    Tschacher, Wolfgang; Dubouloz, Priscilla; Meier, Rahel; Junghan, Uli

    2008-06-30

    Apparent motion (AM), the Gestalt perception of motion in the absence of physical motion, was used to study perceptual organization and neurocognitive binding in schizophrenia. Associations between AM perception and psychopathology as well as meaningful subgroups were sought. Circular and stroboscopic AM stimuli were presented to 68 schizophrenia spectrum patients and healthy participants. Psychopathology was measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Psychopathology was related to AM perception differentially: Positive and disorganization symptoms were linked to reduced gestalt stability; negative symptoms, excitement and depression had opposite regression weights. Dimensions of psychopathology thus have opposing effects on gestalt perception. It was generally found that AM perception was closely associated with psychopathology. No difference existed between patients and controls, but two latent classes were found. Class A members who had low levels of AM stability made up the majority of inpatients and control subjects; such participants were generally young and male, with short reaction times. Class B typically contained outpatients and some control subjects; participants in class B were older and showed longer reaction times. Hence AM perceptual dysfunctions are not specific for schizophrenia, yet AM may be a promising stage marker.

  4. Conserved linear dynamics of single-molecule Brownian motion.

    PubMed

    Serag, Maged F; Habuchi, Satoshi

    2017-06-06

    Macromolecular diffusion in homogeneous fluid at length scales greater than the size of the molecule is regarded as a random process. The mean-squared displacement (MSD) of molecules in this regime increases linearly with time. Here we show that non-random motion of DNA molecules in this regime that is undetectable by the MSD analysis can be quantified by characterizing the molecular motion relative to a latticed frame of reference. Our lattice occupancy analysis reveals unexpected sub-modes of motion of DNA that deviate from expected random motion in the linear, diffusive regime. We demonstrate that a subtle interplay between these sub-modes causes the overall diffusive motion of DNA to appear to conform to the linear regime. Our results show that apparently random motion of macromolecules could be governed by non-random dynamics that are detectable only by their relative motion. Our analytical approach should advance broad understanding of diffusion processes of fundamental relevance.

  5. Conserved linear dynamics of single-molecule Brownian motion

    PubMed Central

    Serag, Maged F.; Habuchi, Satoshi

    2017-01-01

    Macromolecular diffusion in homogeneous fluid at length scales greater than the size of the molecule is regarded as a random process. The mean-squared displacement (MSD) of molecules in this regime increases linearly with time. Here we show that non-random motion of DNA molecules in this regime that is undetectable by the MSD analysis can be quantified by characterizing the molecular motion relative to a latticed frame of reference. Our lattice occupancy analysis reveals unexpected sub-modes of motion of DNA that deviate from expected random motion in the linear, diffusive regime. We demonstrate that a subtle interplay between these sub-modes causes the overall diffusive motion of DNA to appear to conform to the linear regime. Our results show that apparently random motion of macromolecules could be governed by non-random dynamics that are detectable only by their relative motion. Our analytical approach should advance broad understanding of diffusion processes of fundamental relevance. PMID:28585925

  6. Conserved linear dynamics of single-molecule Brownian motion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Serag, Maged F.; Habuchi, Satoshi

    2017-06-01

    Macromolecular diffusion in homogeneous fluid at length scales greater than the size of the molecule is regarded as a random process. The mean-squared displacement (MSD) of molecules in this regime increases linearly with time. Here we show that non-random motion of DNA molecules in this regime that is undetectable by the MSD analysis can be quantified by characterizing the molecular motion relative to a latticed frame of reference. Our lattice occupancy analysis reveals unexpected sub-modes of motion of DNA that deviate from expected random motion in the linear, diffusive regime. We demonstrate that a subtle interplay between these sub-modes causes the overall diffusive motion of DNA to appear to conform to the linear regime. Our results show that apparently random motion of macromolecules could be governed by non-random dynamics that are detectable only by their relative motion. Our analytical approach should advance broad understanding of diffusion processes of fundamental relevance.

  7. Treating inertia in passive microbead rheology.

    PubMed

    Indei, Tsutomu; Schieber, Jay D; Córdoba, Andrés; Pilyugina, Ekaterina

    2012-02-01

    The dynamic modulus G(*) of a viscoelastic medium is often measured by following the trajectory of a small bead subject to Brownian motion in a method called "passive microbead rheology." This equivalence between the positional autocorrelation function of the tracer bead and G(*) is assumed via the generalized Stokes-Einstein relation (GSER). However, inertia of both bead and medium are neglected in the GSER so that the analysis based on the GSER is not valid at high frequency where inertia is important. In this paper we show how to treat both contributions to inertia properly in one-bead passive microrheological analysis. A Maxwell fluid is studied as the simplest example of a viscoelastic fluid to resolve some apparent paradoxes of eliminating inertia. In the original GSER, the mean-square displacement (MSD) of the tracer bead does not satisfy the correct initial condition. If bead inertia is considered, the proper initial condition is realized, thereby indicating an importance of including inertia, but the MSD oscillates at a time regime smaller than the relaxation time of the fluid. This behavior is rather different from the original result of the GSER and what is observed. What is more, the discrepancy from the GSER result becomes worse with decreasing bead mass, and there is an anomalous gap between the MSD derived by naïvely taking the zero-mass limit in the equation of motion and the MSD for finite bead mass as indicated by McKinley et al. [J. Rheol. 53, 1487 (2009)]. In this paper we show what is necessary to take the zero-mass limit of the bead safely and correctly without causing either the inertial oscillation or the anomalous gap, while obtaining the proper initial condition. The presence of a very small purely viscous element can be used to eliminate bead inertia safely once included in the GSER. We also show that if the medium contains relaxation times outside the window where the single-mode Maxwell behavior is observed, the oscillation can be attenuated inside the window. This attenuation is realized even in the absence of a purely viscous element. Finally, fluid inertia also affects the bead autocorrelation through the Basset force and the fluid dragged around with the bead. We show that the Basset force plays the same role as the purely viscous element in high-frequency regime, and the oscillation of MSD is suppressed if fluid density and bead density are comparable. © 2012 American Physical Society

  8. Abundance Ratios in a Common Proper Motion Pair: Chemical Evidence of Accreted Substructure in the Halo Field?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    King, Jeremy R.

    1997-06-01

    Elemental abundances are presented for the metal-poor ([Fe/H] =-1.50) common proper motion pair HD 134439 and HD 134440. The abundances for the two stars are in very good agreement, with the neutral species showing only a small difference (˜0.05 dex) which is well within the statistical and Teff uncertainties. The essentially identical abundances, kinematics, and parallaxes of the two stars indicate that they share a common history. This history, however, appears to be different than other metal-poor stars. Suggestions, based on kinematic evidence, that these two-stars are representative of a distinct accretion event are corroborated by our abundance ratios, which indicate [Mg/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [Ca/Fe] are consistently some ˜0.3 dex lower than the vast majority of metal-poor field stars. Such underabundances have been predicted in environments like dwarf Spheroidals and the Magellanic Clouds. Moreover, our abundance ratio deficiencies are consistent with those recently observed in the the anomalously young globular clusters Rup 106 and Pal 12, which have been alleged to have been accreted from the Magellanic Clouds. The [Fe/H] and retrograde motion of the common proper motion pair are characteristic of the subset of Galactic globular clusters suggested by Rodgers & Paltoglou [ApJ, 283, L5 (1984)] to have been coalesced from satellite galaxies. We also call attention to the metal-poor subgiant BD+03 740 as another possible representative of an accreted or chaotically formed member of the halo field. If recent Fe analyses of this star are correct, then [Mg/Fe] and [0/Fe] are 0.5 dex lower than in other metal-poor field stars. This star also has a relatively low photometrically inferred age; relative youth has been noted as a possible characteristic of accreted field populations, and is qualitatively consistent with the young ages of the purportedly accreted globular clusters Rup 106, Pal 12, Ter 7, and Arp 2. Additionally, the revised [O/Fe] ratio for BD+03 740 would suggest a large spread, perhaps 0.7 dex, in [0/Fe] of field stars of very low [Fe/H]; this itself might provide strong evidence of some degree of chaotic halo formation in independent fragments. If, on the other hand, earlier Fe analyses of this star are correct, [Mg/Fe] and [O/Fe] for this star are unremarkable; however, the low gravity estimates from earlier studies would then suggest that BD+03 740 is a ≤3 Gyr field star with [Fe/H] ˜-3. Further spectroscopic study of this interesting object is needed to determine if it may be similar to the metal-poor ([Fe/H] = - 3.1) high velocity star CS 22873-139, which Preston [M 108, 2267 (1994)] has argued is ≤8 Gyr in age. Finally, our abundance ratios for RD 134439 and RD 134440 suggest that low [αFe] may be a characteristic of accreted halo systems including the anomalously young globulars. However, as has been noted by others, the low α-element abundances apparently cannot explain differences between photometric and Ca II-based metallicity estimates for these clusters, nor the variation in these differences between Rup 106 and Pal 12.

  9. PARSEC's Astrometry - The Risky Approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Andrei, A. H.

    2015-10-01

    Parallaxes - and hence the fundamental establishment of stellar distances - rank among the oldest, most direct, and hardest of astronomical determinations. Arguably amongst the most essential too. The direct approach to obtain trigonometric parallaxes, using a constrained set of equations to derive positions, proper motions, and parallaxes, has been labelled as risky. Properly so, because the axis of the parallactic apparent ellipse is smaller than one arcsec even for the nearest stars, and just a fraction of its perimeter can be followed. Thus the classical approach is of linearizing the description by locking the solution to a set of precise positions of the Earth at the instants of observation, rather than to the dynamics of its orbit, and of adopting a close examination of the few observations available. In the PARSEC program the parallaxes of 143 brown dwarfs were planned. Five years of observation of the fields were taken with the WFI camera at the ESO 2.2m telescope in Chile. The goal is to provide a statistically significant number of trigonometric parallaxes for BD sub-classes from L0 to T7. Taking advantage of the large, regularly spaced, quantity of observations, here we take the risky approach to fit an ellipse to the observed ecliptic coordinates and derive the parallaxes. We also combine the solutions from different centroiding methods, widely proven in prior astrometric investigations. As each of those methods assess diverse properties of the PSFs, they are taken as independent measurements, and combined into a weighted least-squares general solution. The results obtained compare well with the literature and with the classical approach.

  10. Spitzer Opens New Path to Break Classic Degeneracy for Jupiter-mass Microlensing Planet OGLE-2017-BLG-1140Lb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Calchi Novati, S.; Skowron, J.; Jung, Y. K.; Beichman, C.; Bryden, G.; Carey, S.; Gaudi, B. S.; Henderson, C. B.; Shvartzvald, Y.; Yee, J. C.; Zhu, W.; Spitzer Team; Udalski, A.; Szymański, M. K.; Mróz, P.; Poleski, R.; Soszyński, I.; Kozłowski, S.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Ulaczyk, K.; Pawlak, M.; Rybicki, K.; Iwanek, P.; OGLE Collaboration; Albrow, M. D.; Chung, S.-J.; Gould, A.; Han, C.; Hwang, K.-H.; Ryu, Y.-H.; Shin, I.-G.; Zang, W.; Cha, S.-M.; Kim, D.-J.; Kim, H.-W.; Kim, S.-L.; Lee, C.-U.; Lee, D.-J.; Lee, Y.; Park, B.-G.; Pogge, R. W.; KMTNet Collaboration

    2018-06-01

    We analyze the combined Spitzer and ground-based data for OGLE-2017-BLG-1140 and show that the event was generated by a Jupiter-class ({m}p≃ 1.6 {M}{{J}{{u}}{{p}}}) planet orbiting a mid-late M dwarf (M≃ 0.2 {M}ȯ ) that lies {D}LS}≃ 1.0 {kpc} in the foreground of the microlensed Galactic-bar source star. The planet–host projected separation is {a}\\perp ≃ 1.0 {au}, i.e., well beyond the snow line. By measuring the source proper motion {{\\boldsymbol{μ }}}s from ongoing long-term OGLE imaging and combining this with the lens-source relative proper motion {{\\boldsymbol{μ }}}rel} derived from the microlensing solution, we show that the lens proper motion {{\\boldsymbol{μ }}}l={{\\boldsymbol{μ }}}rel}+{{\\boldsymbol{μ }}}s is consistent with the lens lying in the Galactic disk, although a bulge lens is not ruled out. We show that while the Spitzer and ground-based data are comparably well fitted by planetary (i.e., binary-lens (2L1S)) and binary-source (1L2S) models, the combination of Spitzer and ground-based data decisively favors the planetary model. This is a new channel to resolve the 2L1S/1L2S degeneracy, which can be difficult to break in some cases.

  11. Astrometry - Naval Oceanography Portal

    Science.gov Websites

    section Advanced Search... Sections Home Time Earth Orientation Astronomy Meteorology Oceanography Ice You is the branch of astronomy concerned with the determination of positions, proper motions, and

  12. Outer rotation curve of the Galaxy with VERA. III. Astrometry of IRAS 07427-2400 and test of the density-wave theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sakai, Nobuyuki; Nakanishi, Hiroyuki; Matsuo, Mitsuhiro; Koide, Nagito; Tezuka, Daisuke; Kurayama, Tomoharu; Shibata, Katsunori M.; Ueno, Yuji; Honma, Mareki

    2015-08-01

    We report the trigonometric parallax of IRAS 07427-2400 with VERA to be 0.185 ± 0.027 mas, corresponding to a distance of 5.41^{+0.92}_{-0.69}kpc. The result is consistent with the previous result of 5.32^{+0.49}_{-0.42}kpc obtained by Choi et al. (2014, ApJ, 790, 99) within error. To remove the effect of internal maser motions (e.g., random motions), we observed six maser features associated with IRAS 07427-2400 and determined systematic proper motions of the source by averaging proper motions of the six maser features. The obtained proper motions are (μαcos δ, μδ) = (-1.79 ± 0.32, 2.60 ± 0.17) mas yr-1 in equatorial coordinates, while Choi et al. (2014) showed (μαcos δ, μδ) = (-2.43 ± 0.02, 2.49 ± 0.09) mas yr-1 with one maser feature. Our astrometry results place the source in the Perseus arm, the nearest main arm in the Milky Way. Using our result with previous astrometry results obtained from observations of the Perseus arm, we conducted direct (quantitative) comparisons between 27 astrometry results and an analytic gas dynamics model based on the density-wave theory, obtaining two results. First is the pitch angle of the Perseus arm determined by VLBI astrometry, 11.1° ± 1.4°, differing from what is determined by the spiral potential model (probably traced by stars), ˜ 20°. The second is an offset between a dense gas region and the bottom of the spiral potential model. The dense gas region traced by VLBI astrometry is located downstream of the spiral potential model, which was previously confirmed in the nearby grand-design spiral galaxy M 51 in Egusa, Koda, and Scoville (2011, ApJ, 726, 85).

  13. Brief report: altered horizontal binding of single dots to coherent motion in autism.

    PubMed

    David, Nicole; Rose, Michael; Schneider, Till R; Vogeley, Kai; Engel, Andreas K

    2010-12-01

    Individuals with autism often show a fragmented way of perceiving their environment, suggesting a disorder of information integration, possibly due to disrupted communication between brain areas. We investigated thirteen individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) and thirteen healthy controls using the metastable motion quartet, a stimulus consisting of two dots alternately presented at four locations of a hypothetical square, thereby inducing an apparent motion percept. This percept is vertical or horizontal, the latter requiring binding of motion signals across cerebral hemispheres. Decreasing the horizontal distance between dots could facilitate horizontal percepts. We found evidence for altered horizontal binding in HFA: Individuals with HFA needed stronger facilitation to experience horizontal motion. These data are interpreted in light of reduced cross-hemispheric communication.

  14. Another Look at Strong Ground Motion Accelerations and Stress Drop

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baltay, A.; Prieto, G.; Ide, S.; Hanks, T. C.; Beroza, G. C.

    2010-12-01

    The relationship between earthquake stress drop and ground motion acceleration is central to seismic hazard analysis. We revisit measurements of root-mean-square (RMS) acceleration, arms, using KikNet accelerometer data from Japan. We directly measure RMS and peak acceleration, and estimate both apparent stress and corner frequencies using the empirical Green’s function (eGf) coda method of Baltay et al. [2010]. We predict armsfrom corner frequency and stress drop following McGuire and Hanks [1980] to compare with measurements. The theoretical relationship does a good job of predicting observed arms. We use four earthquake sequences in Japan to investigate the source parameters and accelerations: the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi earthquake; the off-Kamaishi repeating sequence; and the 2004 and 2007 Niigata events. In each data set, we choose events that are nearly co-located so that the path term to any station is constant. Small events are used as empirical Green’s functions to correct for propagation effects. For all sequences, we find that the apparent stress averages ~1 MPa for most events. Corner frequencies are consistent with Mo-1/3 scaling. We find the ratio of stress drop and apparent stress to be 5, consistent with the theoretical derivation of Singh and Ordaz [1994], using a Brune [1970] spectra. armsis theoretically proportional to stress drop and the inverse square root of the corner frequency. We show that this calculation can be used as a proxy for armsobservations from strong motion records, using recent data from the four earthquake sequences mentioned above. Even for the Iwate-Miyagi mainshock, which experienced over 4 g’s of acceleration, we find that apparent stress, stress drop and corner frequency follow expected scaling laws and support self-similarity.

  15. Rotational velocities of newly discovered, low-mass members of the Alpha Persei cluster

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stauffer, John R.; Hartmann, Lee W.; Jones, Burton F.

    1989-01-01

    About 30 new, low-mass members of the young open cluster Alpha Persei are identified via a proper-motion study and subsequent photometric and spectroscopic observations. Membership in the cluster is confirmed for a number of the fainter proper-motion candidates from Heckman, Dieckvoss, and Kox (1956). Coordinates, finding charts, BVRI photometry, and rotational velocities are provided for most of the stars. At least two of the stars show peculiar H-alpha emission profiles, with weak but very broad emission wings, and relatively narrow absorption reversals. The rotational velocity distribution for low-mass stars in the Alpha Per cluster are compared with recently derived rotational velocity distributions for T Tauri stars, placing strong constraints on the mechanisms for angular momentum loss during pre-main-sequence evolution.

  16. Multiple spacecraft configuration designs for coordinated flight missions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fumenti, Federico; Theil, Stephan

    2018-06-01

    Coordinated flight allows the replacement of a single monolithic spacecraft with multiple smaller ones, based on the principle of distributed systems. According to the mission objectives and to ensure a safe relative motion, constraints on the relative distances need to be satisfied. Initially, differential perturbations are limited by proper orbit design. Then, the induced differential drifts can be properly handled through corrective maneuvers. In this work, several designs are surveyed, defining the initial configuration of a group of spacecraft while counteracting the differential perturbations. For each of the investigated designs, focus is placed upon the number of deployable spacecraft and on the possibility to ensure safe relative motion through station keeping of the initial configuration, with particular attention to the required Δ V budget and the constraints violations.

  17. Dynamics of the Oort Cloud In the Gaia Era I: Close Encounters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Torres, S.; Portegies Zwart, S.; Brown, A. G. A.

    2018-04-01

    Comets in the Oort cloud evolve under the influence of internal and external perturbations from giant planets to stellar passages, the Galactic tides, and the interstellar medium.Using the positions, parallaxes and proper motions from TGAS in Gaia DR1 and combining them with the radial velocities from the RAVE-DR5, Geneva-Copenhagen and Pulkovo catalogues, we calculated the closest encounters the Sun has had with other stars in the recent past and will have in the near future. We find that the stars with high proper motions near to the present time are missing in the Gaia-TGAS, and those to tend to be the closest ones. The quality of the data allows putting better constraints on the encounter parameters, compared to previous surveys.

  18. Distance and Kinematics of the Red Hypergiant VY CMa: Very Long Baseline Array and Very Large Array Astrometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, B.; Reid, M. J.; Menten, K. M.; Zheng, X. W.

    2012-01-01

    We report astrometric results of phase-referencing very long baseline interferometry observations of 43 GHz SiO maser emission toward the red hypergiant VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). We measured a trigonometric parallax of 0.83 ± 0.08 mas, corresponding to a distance of 1.20+0.13 -0.10 kpc. Compared to previous studies, the spatial distribution of SiO masers has changed dramatically, while its total extent remains similar. The internal motions of the maser spots are up to 1.4 mas yr-1, corresponding to 8 km s-1, and show a tendency for expansion. After modeling the expansion of maser spots, we derived an absolute proper motion for the central star of μ x = -2.8 ± 0.2 and μ y = 2.6 ± 0.2 mas yr-1 eastward and northward, respectively. Based on the maser distribution from the VLBA observations, and the relative position between the radio photosphere and the SiO maser emission at 43 GHz from the complementary Very Large Array observations, we estimate the absolute position of VY CMa at mean epoch 2006.53 to be αJ2000 = 07h22m58.s3259 ± 0.s0007, δJ2000 = -25°46'03farcs063 ± 0farcs010. The position and proper motion of VY CMa from the VLBA observations differ significantly with values measured by the Hipparcos satellite. These discrepancies are most likely associated with inhomogeneities and dust scattering the optical light in the circumstellar envelope. The absolute proper motion measured with VLBA suggests that VY CMa may be drifting out of the giant molecular cloud to the east of it.

  19. Is the four-day rotation of Venus illusory?. [includes systematic error in radial velocities of solar lines reflected from Venus

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Young, A. T.

    1974-01-01

    An overlooked systematic error exists in the apparent radial velocities of solar lines reflected from regions of Venus near the terminator, owing to a combination of the finite angular size of the Sun and its large (2 km/sec) equatorial velocity of rotation. This error produces an apparent, but fictitious, retrograde component of planetary rotation, typically on the order of 40 meters/sec. Spectroscopic, photometric, and radiometric evidence against a 4-day atmospheric rotation is also reviewed. The bulk of the somewhat contradictory evidence seems to favor slow motions, on the order of 5 m/sec, in the atmosphere of Venus; the 4-day rotation may be due to a traveling wave-like disturbance, not bulk motions, driven by the UV albedo differences.

  20. Unsteady Sail Dynamics in Olympic Class Sailboats

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Williamson, Charles; Schutt, Riley

    2016-11-01

    Unsteady sailing techniques have evolved in competitive sailboat fleets, in cases where the relative weight of the sailor is sufficient to impart unsteady motions to the boat and sails. We will discuss three types of motion that are used by athletes to propel their boats on an Olympic race course faster than using the wind alone. In all of our cases, body weight movements induce unsteady sail motion, increasing driving force and speed through the water. In this research, we explore the dynamics of an Olympic class Laser sailboat equipped with a GPS, IMU, wind sensor, and a 6-GoPro camera array. We shall briefly discuss "sail flicking", whereby the helmsman periodically rolls the sail into the apparent wind, at an angle which is distinct from classical heave (in our case, the oscillations are not normal to the apparent flow). We also demonstrate "roll tacking", where there are considerable advantages to rolling the boat during such a maneuver, especially in light wind. In both of the above examples from on-the-water studies, corresponding experiments using a towing tank exhibit increases in the driving force, associated with the formation of strong vortex pairs into the flow. Finally, we focus on a technique known as "S-curving" in the case where the boat sails downwind. In contrast to the previous cases, it is drag force rather than lift force that the sailor is trying to maximise as the boat follows a zig-zag trajectory. The augmented apparent wind strength due to the oscillatory sail motion, and the growth of strong synchronised low-pressure wake vortices on the low-pressure side of the sail, contribute to the increase in driving force, and velocity-made-good downwind.

  1. Endocrine correlates of susceptibility to motion sickness

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kohl, R. L.

    1985-01-01

    Motion sickness releases ACTH, epinerphrine, and norepinephrine. The endocrine responses to motion sickness, adaptive responses leading to the resolution of the syndrome, and the way in which antimotion-sickness drugs influence the endocrine responses were studied. Susceptible or insusceptible subjects were administered antimotion-sickness drugs prior to stressful stimulation. Insusceptible subjects displayed more pronounced elevations of ACTH, epinephrine, and norepinephrine after stressful motion. Predrug levels of ACTH were higher in insusceptible subjects (p less than 0.01). Acute blockade of hormone responses to stressful motion or alteration of levels of ACTH by drugs were not correlated with individual susceptibility. No correlation was apparent between epinephrine and ACTH release. These endocrine differences may represent neurochemical markers for susceptibility to motion, stress, or general adaptability, and it may be that the chronic modulation of their levels might be more effective in preventing motion sickness than the acute blockage or stimulation of specific receptors.

  2. Vasopressin and motion sickness in cats

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fox, R. A.; Keil, L. C.; Daunton, N. G.; Crampton, G. H.; Lucot, J.

    1987-01-01

    Levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in cats under several motion-sickness-inducing conditions. Plasma AVP increased significantly in both susceptible and resistant animals exposed to motion. When vomiting occurred, levels of plasma AVP were drmatically elevated (up to 27 times resting levels). There was no difference in resting levels of AVP of susceptible and resistant cats. Levels of CSF-AVP were not elevated immediately after vomiting, but the testing levels of CSF-AVP were lower in animals that vomited during motion than in those animals which did not vomit during motion. The results of these experiments show that changes in systemic AVP are directly related to vomiting induced by motion, however, CSF-AVP apparently does not change in association with vomiting. CSF-AVP does appear to be lower in animals that reach frank vomiting during motion stimulation than in animals which do not vomit.

  3. Visual adaptation alters the apparent speed of real-world actions.

    PubMed

    Mather, George; Sharman, Rebecca J; Parsons, Todd

    2017-07-27

    The apparent physical speed of an object in the field of view remains constant despite variations in retinal velocity due to viewing conditions (velocity constancy). For example, people and cars appear to move across the field of view at the same objective speed regardless of distance. In this study a series of experiments investigated the visual processes underpinning judgements of objective speed using an adaptation paradigm and video recordings of natural human locomotion. Viewing a video played in slow-motion for 30 seconds caused participants to perceive subsequently viewed clips played at standard speed as too fast, so playback had to be slowed down in order for it to appear natural; conversely after viewing fast-forward videos for 30 seconds, playback had to be speeded up in order to appear natural. The perceived speed of locomotion shifted towards the speed depicted in the adapting video ('re-normalisation'). Results were qualitatively different from those obtained in previously reported studies of retinal velocity adaptation. Adapting videos that were scrambled to remove recognizable human figures or coherent motion caused significant, though smaller shifts in apparent locomotion speed, indicating that both low-level and high-level visual properties of the adapting stimulus contributed to the changes in apparent speed.

  4. Global Plate Motions Relative to the Hotspots since 48 Ma B.P. from Simultaneous Inversion of Hotspot Tracks in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans Constrained to Consistency with Known Relative Plate Motions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gordon, R. G.; Koivisto, E. A. L.

    2016-12-01

    A fundamental problem of global tectonics and paleomagnetism is determining what part of apparent polar wander is due to plate motion and what part is due to true polar wander. One approach for separating these is available if global hotspots can be used as a reference frame approximately fixed with respect to the deep mantle. Some other workers have used a hotspot reference based only on tracks in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and some have used reference frames with moving hotspots and many adjustable parameters. In sharp contrast to the assumptions made in these other works, our recent results demonstrate that there is no significant motion between the Pacific and Indo-Atlantic hotspots since 48 Ma B.P. (lower bound of zero and upper bound of 8-13 mm/yr [Koivisto et al., 2014]). Corrected methodologies combined with cumulative improvements in the age progression along the hotspot tracks, the geomagnetic reversal time scale, and relative plate reconstructions lead to significantly lower rates of motion between hotspots than found in prior studies. Building on our prior results, here we present a globally self-consistent estimate of plate motions relative to the hotspots for the past 48 million years from inversions to fit simultaneously the tracks of the Hawaiian, Louisville, Tristan da Cunha, Réunion, and Iceland hotspots constrained to consistency with known relative plate motions. Each finite rotation is estimated for an age corresponding to a key magnetic anomaly used in plate reconstructions. The new set of plate reconstructions presented here provides a firm basis for estimating absolute plate motions for the past 48 million years and, in particular, can be used to separate paleomagnetically determined apparent polar wander into the part due to plate motion and the part due to true polar wander. Implications for true polar wander since the age of the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend will be discussed.

  5. Processing of targets in smooth or apparent motion along the vertical in the human brain: an fMRI study.

    PubMed

    Maffei, Vincenzo; Macaluso, Emiliano; Indovina, Iole; Orban, Guy; Lacquaniti, Francesco

    2010-01-01

    Neural substrates for processing constant speed visual motion have been extensively studied. Less is known about the brain activity patterns when the target speed changes continuously, for instance under the influence of gravity. Using functional MRI (fMRI), here we compared brain responses to accelerating/decelerating targets with the responses to constant speed targets. The target could move along the vertical under gravity (1g), under reversed gravity (-1g), or at constant speed (0g). In the first experiment, subjects observed targets moving in smooth motion and responded to a GO signal delivered at a random time after target arrival. As expected, we found that the timing of the motor responses did not depend significantly on the specific motion law. Therefore brain activity in the contrast between different motion laws was not related to motor timing responses. Average BOLD signals were significantly greater for 1g targets than either 0g or -1g targets in a distributed network including bilateral insulae, left lingual gyrus, and brain stem. Moreover, in these regions, the mean activity decreased monotonically from 1g to 0g and to -1g. In the second experiment, subjects intercepted 1g, 0g, and -1g targets either in smooth motion (RM) or in long-range apparent motion (LAM). We found that the sites in the right insula and left lingual gyrus, which were selectively engaged by 1g targets in the first experiment, were also significantly more active during 1g trials than during -1g trials both in RM and LAM. The activity in 0g trials was again intermediate between that in 1g trials and that in -1g trials. Therefore in these regions the global activity modulation with the law of vertical motion appears to hold for both RM and LAM. Instead, a region in the inferior parietal lobule showed a preference for visual gravitational motion only in LAM but not RM.

  6. What motion is: William Neile and the laws of motion.

    PubMed

    Kemeny, Max

    2017-07-01

    In 1668-1669 William Neile and John Wallis engaged in a protracted correspondence regarding the nature of motion. Neile was unhappy with the laws of motion that had been established by the Royal Society in three papers published in 1668, deeming them not explanations of motion at all, but mere descriptions. Neile insisted that science could not be informative without a discussion of causes, meaning that Wallis's purely kinematic account of collision could not be complete. Wallis, however, did not consider Neile's objections to his work to be serious. Rather than engage in a discussion of the proper place of natural philosophy in science, Wallis decided to show how Neile's preferred treatment of motion lead to absurd conclusions. This dispute is offered as a case study of dispute resolution within the early Royal Society.

  7. Observations of apparent superslow wave propagation in solar prominences

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Raes, J. O.; Van Doorsselaere, T.; Baes, M.; Wright, A. N.

    2017-06-01

    Context. Phase mixing of standing continuum Alfvén waves and/or continuum slow waves in atmospheric magnetic structures such as coronal arcades can create the apparent effect of a wave propagating across the magnetic field. Aims: We observe a prominence with SDO/AIA on 2015 March 15 and find the presence of oscillatory motion. We aim to demonstrate that interpreting this motion as a magneto hydrodynamic (MHD) wave is faulty. We also connect the decrease of the apparent velocity over time with the phase mixing process, which depends on the curvature of the magnetic field lines. Methods: By measuring the displacement of the prominence at different heights to calculate the apparent velocity, we show that the propagation slows down over time, in accordance with the theoretical work of Kaneko et al. We also show that this propagation speed drops below what is to be expected for even slow MHD waves for those circumstances. We use a modified Kippenhahn-Schlüter prominence model to calculate the curvature of the magnetic field and fit our observations accordingly. Results: Measuring three of the apparent waves, we get apparent velocities of 14, 8, and 4 km s-1. Fitting a simple model for the magnetic field configuration, we obtain that the filament is located 103 Mm below the magnetic centre. We also obtain that the scale of the magnetic field strength in the vertical direction plays no role in the concept of apparent superslow waves and that the moment of excitation of the waves happened roughly one oscillation period before the end of the eruption that excited the oscillation. Conclusions: Some of the observed phase velocities are lower than expected for slow modes for the circumstances, showing that they rather fit with the concept of apparent superslow propagation. A fit with our magnetic field model allows for inferring the magnetic geometry of the prominence. The movie attached to Fig. 1 is available at http://www.aanda.org

  8. A COMPREHENSIVE SEARCH FOR STELLAR BOWSHOCK NEBULAE IN THE MILKY WAY: A CATALOG OF 709 MID-INFRARED SELECTED CANDIDATES

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kobulnicky, Henry A.; Chick, William T.; Schurhammer, Danielle P.

    2016-12-01

    We identify 709 arc-shaped mid-infrared nebula in 24 μ m Spitzer Space Telescope or 22 μ m Wide Field Infrared Explorer surveys of the Galactic Plane as probable dusty interstellar bowshocks powered by early-type stars. About 20% are visible at 8 μ m or at shorter mid-infrared wavelengths. The vast majority (660) have no previous identification in the literature. These extended infrared sources are strongly concentrated near the Galactic mid-plane, with an angular scale height of ∼0.°6. All host a symmetrically placed star implicated as the source of a stellar wind sweeping up interstellar material. These are candidate “runaway” starsmore » potentially having high velocities in the reference frame of the local medium. Among the 286 objects with measured proper motions, we find an unambiguous excess with velocity vectors aligned with the infrared morphology—kinematic evidence that many of these are “runaway” stars with large peculiar motions responsible for the bowshock signature. We discuss a population of “in situ” bowshocks (∼103 objects) that face giant H ii regions where the relative motions between the star and ISM may be caused by bulk outflows from an overpressured bubble. We also identify ∼58 objects that face 8 μ m bright-rimmed clouds and apparently constitute a sub-class of in situ bowshocks where the stellar wind interacts with a photoevaporative flow (PEF) from an eroding molecular cloud interface (i.e., “PEF bowshocks”). Orientations of the arcuate nebulae exhibit a correlation over small angular scales, indicating that external influences such as H ii regions are responsible for producing some bowshock nebulae. However, the vast majority of the nebulae in this sample appear to be isolated (499 objects) from obvious external influences.« less

  9. A new view on the M 87 jet origin: Turbulent loading leading to large-scale episodic wiggling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Britzen, S.; Fendt, C.; Eckart, A.; Karas, V.

    2017-05-01

    Context. The nearby, giant radio galaxy M 87 hosts a supermassive black hole (BH) and is well-known for a bright jet dominating the spectrum over ten orders of magnitude in frequency. Due to its proximity, jet prominence, and the large BH mass, M 87 is the best laboratory for investigating the formation, acceleration, and collimation of relativistic jets. Many kinematic studies have been performed to determine the proper motions in the jet. Despite M 87 providing all proofs of being an active BH, the apparent jet speed remained puzzling, because proper motion measurements between 15 and 43 GHz for the same region of 1-10 mas core distance provided largely discrepant results. This source is a prime object to be studied in exquisite detail with the upcoming Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations because it promises to allow a direct view on the jet launching process itself. Aims: We aim to decipher some of the kinematic puzzles in the pc-scale jet with the analysis we present here. Methods: We re-modeled and re-analyzed 31 VLBA observations at 15 GHz obtained within the MOJAVE program. The data span a time range between Jul. 1995 and May 2011. We performed a detailed investigation of the pc-scale jet kinematics on different timescales, the shortest periods between the observations beeing 10 and 80 days, and in different jet modes, making use of VLBA observations. In addition, we studied the jet ridge line behavior as a function of time. Special care was taken to analyze the region close to the 15 GHz core, and the dynamics and distribution of newly emerging jet features in the jet. Results: We find an indication for apparent superluminal motion in the jet. Moreover, we present evidence for acceleration between 0.5 and 10 mas of core separation. The data suggest that the central part of M 87 at 15 GHz seems to be rotating. Jet components and counter-jet components are ejected in different directions under varying angles, explaining the impression of a broad opening angle. In this paper we present evidence for two different operating modes of the jet of M 87. The jet switches between two phases: I) the jet ridge line is at least double or the jet axis is displaced vertically, and II) an unperturbed phase where the jet ridge line remains almost straight but is smoothly curved and the jet components are aligned along a classical jet axis. The mode change occurs every couple of years. Between the two operating modes, a transition phase is visible. Conclusions: The M 87 jet visible at 15 GHz probes a different physical zone compared to the standard blazar-zone we tend to see in AGN jets. The most likely scenario explaining the observed phenomena is a turbulent mass loading into the jet, most probably due to local, fast reconnection processes driven by turbulence of a tangled magnetic field, which is either generated in the accretion disk or the disk corona. In addition, on large scales, a global magnetic structure is required to channel the turbulent flow into what evolves into a large-scale jet. Large-scale jet instabilities may explain the curved pattern of the observed jet flow.

  10. Copernicus, Epicurus, Galileo, and Gassendi.

    PubMed

    LoLordo, Antonia

    2015-06-01

    In his Letters on the motion impressed by a moving mover, the theory of the motion of composite bodies put forth by Gassendi is strikingly similar to Galileo's. In other of his writings, however, his description of the motion of individual atoms is understood very differently. In those places, he holds (1) that individual atoms are always in motion, even when the body that contains them is at rest, (2) that atomic motion is discontinuous although the motion of composite bodies is at least apparently continuous, and (3) that atomic motion is grounded in an intrinsic vis motrix, motive power. In contrast, composite bodies simply persist in their state of motion or rest in the absence of outside interference. Unfortunately, Gassendi neglects to explain how his accounts of atomic and composite motion fit together, and it is difficult to see how they could possibly be integrated. My goal is to explain, given this difficulty, why he accepted both the Galilean theory of the motion of composite bodies and the Epicurean theory of atomic motion. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Spurious Excitations in Semiclassical Scattering Theory.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gross, D. H. E.; And Others

    1980-01-01

    Shows how through proper handling of the nonuniform motion of semiclassical coordinates spurious excitation terms are eliminated. An application to the problem of nuclear Coulomb excitation is presented as an example. (HM)

  12. MOA-2011-BLG-262Lb: A sub-Earth-mass moon orbiting a gas giant primary or a high velocity planetary system in the galactic Bulge

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bennett, D. P.; Batista, V.; Bond, I. A.

    2014-04-20

    We present the first microlensing candidate for a free-floating exoplanet-exomoon system, MOA-2011-BLG-262, with a primary lens mass of M {sub host} ∼ 4 Jupiter masses hosting a sub-Earth mass moon. The argument for an exomoon hinges on the system being relatively close to the Sun. The data constrain the product M{sub L} π{sub rel} where M{sub L} is the lens system mass and π{sub rel} is the lens-source relative parallax. If the lens system is nearby (large π{sub rel}), then M{sub L} is small (a few Jupiter masses) and the companion is a sub-Earth-mass exomoon. The best-fit solution has amore » large lens-source relative proper motion, μ{sub rel} = 19.6 ± 1.6 mas yr{sup –1}, which would rule out a distant lens system unless the source star has an unusually high proper motion. However, data from the OGLE collaboration nearly rule out a high source proper motion, so the exoplanet+exomoon model is the favored interpretation for the best fit model. However, there is an alternate solution that has a lower proper motion and fits the data almost as well. This solution is compatible with a distant (so stellar) host. A Bayesian analysis does not favor the exoplanet+exomoon interpretation, so Occam's razor favors a lens system in the bulge with host and companion masses of M{sub host}=0.12{sub −0.06}{sup +0.19} M{sub ⊙} and m{sub comp}=18{sub −10}{sup +28} M{sub ⊕}, at a projected separation of a{sub ⊥}=0.84{sub −0.14}{sup +0.25} AU. The existence of this degeneracy is an unlucky accident, so current microlensing experiments are in principle sensitive to exomoons. In some circumstances, it will be possible to definitively establish the mass of such lens systems through the microlensing parallax effect. Future experiments will be sensitive to less extreme exomoons.« less

  13. Kinematics and the origin of the internal structures in HL Tauri jet (HH 151)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Movsessian, T. A.; Magakian, T. Yu.; Moiseev, A. V.

    2012-05-01

    Context. Knotty structures of Herbig-Haro jets are common phenomena, and knowing the origin of these structures is essential for understanding the processes of jet formation. Basically, there are two theoretical approaches: different types of instabilities in stationary flow, and velocity variations in the flow. Aims: We investigate the structures with different radial velocities in the knots of the HL Tau jet as well as its unusual behaviour starting from 20'' from the source. Collation of radial velocity data with proper motion measurements of emission structures in the jet of HL Tau makes it possible to understand the origin of these structures and decide on the mechanism for the formation of the knotty structures in Herbig-Haro flows. Methods: We present observations obtained with a 6 m telescope (Russia) using the SCORPIO camera with scanning Fabry-Perót interferometer. Two epochs of the observations of the HL/XZ Tau region in Hα emission (2001 and 2007) allowed us to measure proper motions for high and low radial velocity structures. Results: The structures with low and high radial velocities in the HL Tau jet show the same proper motion. The point where the HL Tau jet bents to the north (it coincides with the trailing edge of so-called knot A) is stationary, i.e. does not have any perceptible proper motion and is visible in Hα emission only. Conclusions: We conclude that the high- and low-velocity structures in the HL Tau jet represent bow-shocks and Mach disks in the internal working surfaces of episodic outflows. The bend of the jet and the brightness increase starting some distance from the source coincides with the observed stationary deflecting shock. The increase of relative surface brightness of bow-shocks could be the result of the abrupt change of the physical conditions of the ambient medium as well as the interaction of a highly collimated flow and the side wind from XZ Tau. Based on observations collected with the 6 m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), operated under the financial support of the Science Department of Russia (registration number 01-43).

  14. Analysis of Local Variations in Free Field Seismic Ground Motion.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-01-01

    analysis) can conveniently account for material damping through the introduction of complex moduli into the equations of motion. This method can...determined, and the total response is obtained by superposition. This technique, however, can not properly account for the spatial variation of damping...2.9. Most available data only consider the variation of shear modulus and damping ratio with shear strain amplitude. In principle , two moduli and two

  15. On the velocity of the Vela pulsar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gvaramadze, V.

    2001-04-01

    It is shown that if the shell of the Vela supernova remnant is responsible for nearly all the scattering of the Vela pulsar, then the scintillation and proper motion velocities of the pulsar can only be reconciled with each other in the case of nonzero transverse velocity of the scattering material. A possible origin of large-scale transverse motions in the shell of the Vela supernova remnant is discussed.

  16. Why do parallel cortical systems exist for the perception of static form and moving form?

    PubMed

    Grossberg, S

    1991-02-01

    This article analyzes computational properties that clarify why the parallel cortical systems V1----V2, V1----MT, and V1----V2----MT exist for the perceptual processing of static visual forms and moving visual forms. The article describes a symmetry principle, called FM symmetry, that is predicted to govern the development of these parallel cortical systems by computing all possible ways of symmetrically gating sustained cells with transient cells and organizing these sustained-transient cells into opponent pairs of on-cells and off-cells whose output signals are insensitive to direction of contrast. This symmetric organization explains how the static form system (static BCS) generates emergent boundary segmentations whose outputs are insensitive to direction of contrast and insensitive to direction of motion, whereas the motion form system (motion BCS) generates emergent boundary segmentations whose outputs are insensitive to direction of contrast but sensitive to direction of motion. FM symmetry clarifies why the geometries of static and motion form perception differ--for example, why the opposite orientation of vertical is horizontal (90 degrees), but the opposite direction of up is down (180 degrees). Opposite orientations and directions are embedded in gated dipole opponent processes that are capable of antagonistic rebound. Negative afterimages, such as the MacKay and waterfall illusions, are hereby explained as are aftereffects of long-range apparent motion. These antagonistic rebounds help to control a dynamic balance between complementary perceptual states of resonance and reset. Resonance cooperatively links features into emergent boundary segmentations via positive feedback in a CC loop, and reset terminates a resonance when the image changes, thereby preventing massive smearing of percepts. These complementary preattentive states of resonance and reset are related to analogous states that govern attentive feature integration, learning, and memory search in adaptive resonance theory. The mechanism used in the V1----MT system to generate a wave of apparent motion between discrete flashes may also be used in other cortical systems to generate spatial shifts of attention. The theory suggests how the V1----V2----MT cortical stream helps to compute moving form in depth and how long-range apparent motion of illusory contours occurs. These results collectively argue against vision theories that espouse independent processing modules. Instead, specialized subsystems interact to overcome computational uncertainties and complementary deficiencies, to cooperatively bind features into context-sensitive resonances, and to realize symmetry principles that are predicted to govern the development of the visual cortex.

  17. Decoherence and surface hopping: When can averaging over initial conditions help capture the effects of wave packet separation?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Subotnik, Joseph E.; Shenvi, Neil

    2011-06-01

    Fewest-switches surface hopping (FSSH) is a popular nonadiabatic dynamics method which treats nuclei with classical mechanics and electrons with quantum mechanics. In order to simulate the motion of a wave packet as accurately as possible, standard FSSH requires a stochastic sampling of the trajectories over a distribution of initial conditions corresponding, e.g., to the Wigner distribution of the initial quantum wave packet. Although it is well-known that FSSH does not properly account for decoherence effects, there is some confusion in the literature about whether or not this averaging over a distribution of initial conditions can approximate some of the effects of decoherence. In this paper, we not only show that averaging over initial conditions does not generally account for decoherence, but also why it fails to do so. We also show how an apparent improvement in accuracy can be obtained for a fortuitous choice of model problems, even though this improvement is not possible, in general. For a basic set of one-dimensional and two-dimensional examples, we find significantly improved results using our recently introduced augmented FSSH algorithm.

  18. Astronomy and its role in ancient Mesoamerica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Šprajc, Ivan

    2011-06-01

    The observation of the sky had an important rôle among the Maya, Aztecs and other prehispanic peoples of Mesoamerica. Their familiarity with the regularities of the apparent motion of the Sun, the Moon and bright planets is attested in a large amount of astronomical data contained in codices and monumental hieroglyphic inscriptions, as well as in their sophisticated calendrical system. On the other hand, the study of architectural alignments has disclosed that civic and ceremonial buildings were largely oriented on astronomical grounds, mostly to sunrises and sunsets on certain dates, allowing the use of observational calendars that facilitated a proper scheduling of agricultural and the associated ritual activities in the yearly cycle. Both accurate knowledge and other astronomically-derived concepts reveal that the significance attributed to certain celestial events by the ancient Mesoamericans can be explained in terms of the relationship of these phenomena with specific environmental and cultural facts, such as seasonal climatic changes and subsistence strategies. It was particularly due to its practical utility that astronomy, intertwined with religious ideas and practices, had such an important place in the worldview and, consequently, in the cosmologically substantiated political ideology of Mesoamerican societies

  19. WIMP detection and slow ion dynamics in carbon nanotube arrays.

    PubMed

    Cavoto, G; Cirillo, E N M; Cocina, F; Ferretti, J; Polosa, A D

    2016-01-01

    Large arrays of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs), open at one end, could be used as target material for the directional detection of weakly interacting dark matter particles (WIMPs). As a result of a WIMP elastic scattering on a CNT, a carbon ion might be injected in the body of the array and propagate through multiple collisions within the lattice. The ion may eventually emerge from the surface with open end CNTs, provided that its longitudinal momentum is large enough to compensate energy losses and its transverse momentum approaches the channeling conditions in a single CNT. Therefore, the angle formed between the WIMP wind apparent orientation and the direction of parallel carbon nanotube axes must be properly chosen. We focus on very low ion recoil kinetic energies, related to low mass WIMPs ([Formula: see text] GeV) where most of the existing experiments have low sensitivity. Relying on some exact results on two-dimensional lattices of circular obstacles, we study the low energy ion motion in the transverse plane with respect to CNT directions. New constraints are obtained on how to devise the CNT arrays to maximize the target channeling efficiency.

  20. A massively asynchronous, parallel brain.

    PubMed

    Zeki, Semir

    2015-05-19

    Whether the visual brain uses a parallel or a serial, hierarchical, strategy to process visual signals, the end result appears to be that different attributes of the visual scene are perceived asynchronously--with colour leading form (orientation) by 40 ms and direction of motion by about 80 ms. Whatever the neural root of this asynchrony, it creates a problem that has not been properly addressed, namely how visual attributes that are perceived asynchronously over brief time windows after stimulus onset are bound together in the longer term to give us a unified experience of the visual world, in which all attributes are apparently seen in perfect registration. In this review, I suggest that there is no central neural clock in the (visual) brain that synchronizes the activity of different processing systems. More likely, activity in each of the parallel processing-perceptual systems of the visual brain is reset independently, making of the brain a massively asynchronous organ, just like the new generation of more efficient computers promise to be. Given the asynchronous operations of the brain, it is likely that the results of activities in the different processing-perceptual systems are not bound by physiological interactions between cells in the specialized visual areas, but post-perceptually, outside the visual brain.

  1. Music, thinking, perceived motion: the emergence of Gestalt theory.

    PubMed

    Wertheimer, Michael

    2014-05-01

    Histories of psychology typically assert that Gestalt theory began with the publication of Max Wertheimer's 1912b paper on the phi phenomenon, the compelling visual apparent motion of actually stationary stimuli. The current author discusses the origin of Gestalt theory, as told by the historical record starting with M. Wertheimer's upbringing and ending with his most recent Gestalt theories. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.

  2. Effect Of Contrast On Perceived Motion Of A Plaid

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stone, L. S.; Watson, A. B.; Mulligan, J. B.

    1992-01-01

    Report desribes series of experiments examining effect of contrast on perception of moving plaids. Each plaid pattern used in experiments was sum of two drifting sinusoidal gratings of different orientations. One of many studies helping to show how brain processes visual information on moving patterns. When gratings forming plaid differ in contrast, apparent direction of motion of plaid biased up to 20 degrees toward direction of grating of higher contrast.

  3. Egocentric and Allocentric Localization During Induced Motion

    PubMed Central

    Post, Robert B.; Welch, Robert B.; Whitney, David

    2009-01-01

    This research examined motor measures of the apparent egocentric location and perceptual measures of the apparent allocentric location of a target that was being seen to undergo induced motion (IM). In Experiments 1 and 3, subjects fixated a stationary dot (IM target) while a rectangular surround stimulus (inducing stimulus) oscillated horizontally. The inducing stimulus motion caused the IM target to appear to move in the opposite direction. In Experiment 1, two dots (flashed targets) were flashed above and below the IM target when the surround had reached its leftmost or rightmost displacement from the subject’s midline. Subjects pointed open loop at either the apparent egocentric location of the IM target or at the bottom of the two flashed targets. On separate trials, subjects made judgments of the Vernier alignment of the IM target with the flashed targets at the endpoints of the surround’s oscillation. The pointing responses were displaced in the direction of the previously seen IM for the IM target and to a lesser degree for the bottom flashed target. However, the allocentric Vernier judgments demonstrated no perceptual displacement of the IM target relative to the flashed targets. Thus, IM results in a dissociation of egocentric location measures from allocentric location measures. In Experiment 2, pointing and Vernier measures were obtained with stationary horizontally displaced surrounds and there was no dissociation of egocentric location measures from allocentric location measures. These results indicate that the Roelofs effect did not produce the pattern of results in Experiment 1. In Experiment 3, pointing and Vernier measures were obtained when the surround was at the midpoint of an oscillation. In this case, egocentric pointing responses were displaced in the direction of surround motion (opposite IM) for the IM target and to a greater degree for the bottom flashed target. However, there was no apparent displacement of the IM target relative to the flashed targets in the allocentric Vernier judgments. Therefore, in Experiment 3 egocentric location measures were again dissociated from allocentric location measures. The results of this experiment also demonstrate that IM does not generate an allocentric displacement illusion analogous to the “flash-lag” effect. PMID:18751688

  4. SLIPPING MAGNETIC RECONNECTION TRIGGERING A SOLAR ERUPTION OF A TRIANGLE-SHAPED FLAG FLUX ROPE

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Ting; Zhang, Jun, E-mail: liting@nao.cas.cn, E-mail: zjun@nao.cas.cn

    2014-08-10

    We report the first simultaneous activities of the slipping motion of flare loops and a slipping eruption of a flux rope in 131 Å and 94 Å channels on 2014 February 2. The east hook-like flare ribbon propagated with a slipping motion at a speed of about 50 km s{sup –1}, which lasted about 40 minutes and extended by more than 100 Mm, but the west flare ribbon moved in the opposite direction with a speed of 30 km s{sup –1}. At the later phase of flare activity, there was a well developed ''bi-fan'' system of flare loops. The east footpoints ofmore » the flux rope showed an apparent slipping motion along the hook of the ribbon. Simultaneously, the fine structures of the flux rope rose up rapidly at a speed of 130 km s{sup –1}, much faster than that of the whole flux rope. We infer that the east footpoints of the flux rope are successively heated by a slipping magnetic reconnection during the flare, which results in the apparent slippage of the flux rope. The slipping motion delineates a ''triangle-shaped flag surface'' of the flux rope, implying that the topology of a flux rope is more complex than anticipated.« less

  5. The Gaia–WISE Extragalactic Astrometric Catalog

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paine, Jennie; Darling, Jeremy; Truebenbach, Alexandra

    2018-06-01

    The Gaia mission has detected a large number of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and galaxies, but these objects must be identified among the thousandfold more numerous stars. Extant astrometric AGN catalogs do not have the uniform sky coverage required to detect and characterize the all-sky, low-multipole proper motion signals produced by the barycenter motion, gravitational waves, and cosmological effects. To remedy this, we present an all-sky sample of 567,721 AGNs in Gaia Data Release 1, selected using WISE two-color criteria. The catalog has fairly uniform sky coverage beyond the Galactic plane, with a mean density of 12.8 AGNs per square degree. The objects have magnitudes ranging from G = 8.8 down to Gaia’s magnitude limit, G = 20.7. The catalog is approximately 50% complete but suffers from low stellar contamination, roughly 0.2%. We predict that the end-of-mission Gaia proper motions for this catalog will enable detection of the secular aberration drift to high significance (23σ) and will place an upper limit on the anisotropy of the Hubble expansion of about 2%.

  6. Utilization of kinematical redundancy of a rehabilitation robot to produce compliant motions under limitation on actuator performance.

    PubMed

    Goto, Takaaki; Dobashi, Hiroki; Yoshikawa, Tsuneo; Loureiro, Rui C V; Harwin, William S; Miyamura, Yuga; Nagai, Kiyoshi

    2017-07-01

    This paper addresses the mechanical structure and control method of a redundant drive robot (RDR) to produce compliant motions, and show how the design parameters of the RDR can effect the produced motions and the mechanical and performance limitations of the actuators of the RDR. The structure and control method of the RDR can have been proper to produce compliant motions, but the effect of the design parameters of the RDR to the mechanical and performance limitations have not been clear. Therefore, the feasibility of producing compliant motions in the case of the prototype of the RDR is confirmed by conducting simulations and experiments, and then the design parameters of the RDR to the mechanical and performance limitations are verified by conducting simulations.

  7. Magnetic field shift due to mechanical vibration in functional magnetic resonance imaging.

    PubMed

    Foerster, Bernd U; Tomasi, Dardo; Caparelli, Elisabeth C

    2005-11-01

    Mechanical vibrations of the gradient coil system during readout in echo-planar imaging (EPI) can increase the temperature of the gradient system and alter the magnetic field distribution during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This effect is enhanced by resonant modes of vibrations and results in apparent motion along the phase encoding direction in fMRI studies. The magnetic field drift was quantified during EPI by monitoring the resonance frequency interleaved with the EPI acquisition, and a novel method is proposed to correct the apparent motion. The knowledge on the frequency drift over time was used to correct the phase of the k-space EPI dataset. Since the resonance frequency changes very slowly over time, two measurements of the resonance frequency, immediately before and after the EPI acquisition, are sufficient to remove the field drift effects from fMRI time series. The frequency drift correction method was tested "in vivo" and compared to the standard image realignment method. The proposed method efficiently corrects spurious motion due to magnetic field drifts during fMRI. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  8. Relativistic diffusive motion in random electromagnetic fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Haba, Z.

    2011-08-01

    We show that the relativistic dynamics in a Gaussian random electromagnetic field can be approximated by the relativistic diffusion of Schay and Dudley. Lorentz invariant dynamics in the proper time leads to the diffusion in the proper time. The dynamics in the laboratory time gives the diffusive transport equation corresponding to the Jüttner equilibrium at the inverse temperature β-1 = mc2. The diffusion constant is expressed by the field strength correlation function (Kubo's formula).

  9. The effect of center-of-mass motion on photon statistics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, Yang; Zhang, Jun; Wu, Shao-xiong

    2015-10-15

    We analyze the photon statistics of a weakly driven cavity quantum electrodynamics system and discuss the effects of photon blockade and photon-induced tunneling by effectively utilizing instead of avoiding the center-of-mass motion of a two-level atom trapped in the cavity. With the resonant interaction between atom, photon and phonon, it is shown that the bunching and anti-bunching of photons can occur with properly driving frequency. Our study shows the influence of the imperfect cooling of atom on the blockade and provides an attempt to take advantage of the center-of-mass motion.

  10. 49 CFR 178.274 - Specifications for UN portable tanks.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... transported; or (ii) Properly passivated or neutralized by chemical reaction, if applicable; or (iii) For.... All stop-valves with screwed spindles must close by a clockwise motion of the handwheel. For other...

  11. Calculating observables in inhomogeneous cosmologies. Part I: general framework

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hellaby, Charles; Walters, Anthony

    2018-02-01

    We lay out a general framework for calculating the variation of a set of cosmological observables, down the past null cone of an arbitrarily placed observer, in a given arbitrary inhomogeneous metric. The observables include redshift, proper motions, area distance and redshift-space density. Of particular interest are observables that are zero in the spherically symmetric case, such as proper motions. The algorithm is based on the null geodesic equation and the geodesic deviation equation, and it is tailored to creating a practical numerical implementation. The algorithm provides a method for tracking which light rays connect moving objects to the observer at successive times. Our algorithm is applied to the particular case of the Szekeres metric. A numerical implementation has been created and some results will be presented in a subsequent paper. Future work will explore the range of possibilities.

  12. Get Ready for Gaia: Cool White Dwarfs in Common Proper Motion with Tycho Stars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hambly, N.; Rowell, N.; Lam, M.

    2017-03-01

    We discuss the Gaia Data Release 1 (September 2016) and preliminary work on maximising the benefit for cool white dwarf (WD) science in advance of the full parallax catalogue which will appear around one year later in DR2. The Tycho catalogue is used in conjunction with the all-sky ground based astrometric/ photometric SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey in order to identify candidate faint common proper motion objects to the Tycho stars. Gaia DR1 is supplemented by the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution catalogue containing some 2 million parallaxes with Hipparcos-like precision for Tycho stars. While hotter, brighter WDs are present in Tycho, cooler examples are much rarer (if present at all) and CPM offers one method to infer precision distances for a statistically useful sample of these very faint WDs.

  13. Data mining in the young open cluster IC2391

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dodd, R. J.

    2004-12-01

    Large-scale astrometric and photometric data bases have been used to search for and confirm stellar membership of the open cluster IC2391. 125 stars were found that satisfied criteria for membership based on proper motion components and BRI photometry from the United States Naval Observatory B (USNO-B) catalogue and JHK photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) catalogue. This listing was compared with others recently published. A distance to the cluster of 147.7 +/- 5.5 pc was found with mean proper motion components, from the Tycho2 catalogue of (-25.04 +/- 1.53 masyr-1+23.19+/-1.23 masyr-1). A revised Trumpler classification of II3r is suggested. Luminosity and mass functions for the candidate stars were constructed and compared with those of field stars and other clusters.

  14. PG1258+593 and its common proper motion magnetic white dwarf counterpart

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Girven, J.; Gänsicke, B. T.; Külebi, B.; Steeghs, D.; Jordan, S.; Marsh, T. R.; Koester, D.

    2010-05-01

    We confirm SDSSJ130033.48+590407.0 as a common proper motion companion to the well-studied hydrogen-atmosphere (DA) white dwarf PG1258+593 (GD322). The system lies at a distance of 68 +/- 3pc, where the angular separation of 16.1 +/- 0.1arcsec corresponds to a minimum binary separation of 1091 +/- 7au. SDSSJ1300+5904 is a cool (Teff = 6300 +/- 300K) magnetic white dwarf (B ~= 6mG). PG1258+593 is a DA white dwarf with Teff = 14790 +/- 77K and logg = 7.87 +/- 0.02. Using the white dwarf mass-radius relation implies the masses of SDSSJ1300+5904 and PG1258+593 are 0.54 +/- 0.06 and 0.54 +/- 0.01Msolar, respectively, and therefore a cooling age difference of 1.67 +/- 0.05Gyr. Adopting main-sequence lifetimes from stellar models, we derive an upper limit of 2.2Msolar for the mass of the progenitor of PG1258+593. A plausible range of initial masses is 1.4-1.8 Msolar for PG1258+593 and 2-3 Msolar for SDSSJ1300+5904. Our analysis shows that white dwarf common proper motion binaries can potentially constrain the white dwarf initial mass-final mass relation and the formation mechanism for magnetic white dwarfs. The magnetic field of SDSSJ1300+5904 is consistent with an Ap progenitor star. A common envelope origin of the system cannot be excluded, but requires a triple system as progenitor.

  15. Discovery and Characterization of Wide Binary Systems with a Very Low Mass Component

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Baron, Frédérique; Lafrenière, David; Artigau, Étienne; Doyon, René; Gagné, Jonathan; Davison, Cassy L.; Malo, Lison; Robert, Jasmin; Nadeau, Daniel; Reylé, Céline

    2015-03-01

    We report the discovery of 14 low-mass binary systems containing mid-M to mid-L dwarf companions with separations larger than 250 AU. We also report the independent discovery of nine other systems with similar characteristics that were recently discovered in other studies. We have identified these systems by searching for common proper motion sources in the vicinity of known high proper motion stars, based on a cross-correlation of wide area near-infrared surveys (2MASS, SDSS, and SIMP). An astrometric follow-up, for common proper motion confirmation, was made with SIMON and/or CPAPIR at the Observatoire du Mont Mégantic 1.6 m and CTIO 1.5 m telescopes for all the candidates identified. A spectroscopic follow-up was also made with GMOS or GNIRS at Gemini to determine the spectral types of 11 of our newly identified companions and 10 of our primaries. Statistical arguments are provided to show that all of the systems we report here are very likely to be physical binaries. One of the new systems reported features a brown dwarf companion: LSPM J1259+1001 (M5) has an L4.5 (2M1259+1001) companion at ˜340 AU. This brown dwarf was previously unknown. Seven other systems have a companion of spectral type L0-L1 at a separation in the 250-7500 AU range. Our sample includes 14 systems with a mass ratio below 0.3.

  16. DISCOVERY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WIDE BINARY SYSTEMS WITH A VERY LOW MASS COMPONENT

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Baron, Frédérique; Lafrenière, David; Artigau, Étienne

    2015-03-20

    We report the discovery of 14 low-mass binary systems containing mid-M to mid-L dwarf companions with separations larger than 250 AU. We also report the independent discovery of nine other systems with similar characteristics that were recently discovered in other studies. We have identified these systems by searching for common proper motion sources in the vicinity of known high proper motion stars, based on a cross-correlation of wide area near-infrared surveys (2MASS, SDSS, and SIMP). An astrometric follow-up, for common proper motion confirmation, was made with SIMON and/or CPAPIR at the Observatoire du Mont Mégantic 1.6 m and CTIO 1.5more » m telescopes for all the candidates identified. A spectroscopic follow-up was also made with GMOS or GNIRS at Gemini to determine the spectral types of 11 of our newly identified companions and 10 of our primaries. Statistical arguments are provided to show that all of the systems we report here are very likely to be physical binaries. One of the new systems reported features a brown dwarf companion: LSPM J1259+1001 (M5) has an L4.5 (2M1259+1001) companion at ∼340 AU. This brown dwarf was previously unknown. Seven other systems have a companion of spectral type L0–L1 at a separation in the 250–7500 AU range. Our sample includes 14 systems with a mass ratio below 0.3.« less

  17. RED RUNAWAYS II: LOW-MASS HILLS STARS IN SDSS STRIPE 82

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, Yanqiong; Smith, Martin C.; Carlin, Jeffrey L., E-mail: zhangyq@shao.ac.cn, E-mail: msmith@shao.ac.cn

    Stars ejected from the Galactic Center can be used to place important constraints on the Milky Way potential. Since existing hypervelocity stars are too distant to accurately determine orbits, we have conducted a search for nearby candidates using full three-dimensional velocities. Since the efficacy of such studies is often hampered by deficiencies in proper motion catalogs, we have chosen to utilize the reliable, high-precision Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82 proper motion catalog. Although we do not find any candidates which have velocities in excess of the escape speed, we identify 226 stars on orbits that are consistent withmore » Galactic Center ejection. This number is significantly larger than what we would expect for halo stars on radial orbits and cannot be explained by disk or bulge contamination. If we restrict ourselves to metal-rich stars, we find 29 candidates with [Fe/H] > −0.8 dex and 10 with [Fe/H] > −0.6 dex. Their metallicities are more consistent with what we expect for bulge ejecta, and so we believe these candidates are especially deserving of further study. We have supplemented this sample using our own radial velocities, developing an algorithm to use proper motions for optimizing candidate selection. This technique provides considerable improvement on the blind spectroscopic sample of SDSS, being able to identify candidates with an efficiency around 20 times better than a blind search.« less

  18. The slight spin of the old stellar halo

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deason, Alis J.; Belokurov, Vasily; Koposov, Sergey E.; Gómez, Facundo A.; Grand, Robert J.; Marinacci, Federico; Pakmor, Rüdiger

    2017-09-01

    We combine Gaia data release 1 astrometry with Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) images taken some ˜10-15 years earlier, to measure proper motions of stars in the halo of our Galaxy. The SDSS-Gaia proper motions have typical statistical errors of 2 mas yr-1 down to r ˜ 20 mag, and are robust to variations with magnitude and colour. Armed with this exquisite set of halo proper motions, we identify RR Lyrae, blue horizontal branch (BHB), and K giant stars in the halo, and measure their net rotation with respect to the Galactic disc. We find evidence for a gently rotating prograde signal (〈Vϕ〉 ˜ 5-25 km s-1) in the halo stars, which shows little variation with Galactocentric radius out to 50 kpc. The average rotation signal for the three populations is 〈Vϕ〉 = 14 ± 2 ± 10 (syst.) km s-1. There is also tentative evidence for a kinematic correlation with metallicity, whereby the metal richer BHB and K giant stars have slightly stronger prograde rotation than the metal poorer stars. Using the Auriga simulation suite, we find that the old (T >10 Gyr) stars in the simulated haloes exhibit mild prograde rotation, with little dependence on radius or metallicity, in general agreement with the observations. The weak halo rotation suggests that the Milky Way has a minor in situ halo component, and has undergone a relatively quiet accretion history.

  19. Stability and Control Characteristics of a 1/10-Scale Model of the McDonnell XP-85 Airplane While Attached to the Trapeze

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Johnson, Joseph L.

    1947-01-01

    At the request of the Air Materiel Command, Army Air Forces, an investigation of the low-speed, power-off, stability and control characteristics of the McDonnell XP-85 airplane has been conducted in the Langley free-flight tunnel. The results of the portion of the investigation consisting of tests of a 1/10-scale model to study the stability of the XP-85 when attached to the trapeze and during retraction into the B-36 bomb bay are presented herein. In the power-off condition the stability was satisfactory with all oscillations well damped and the nose-restraining collar could be placed in position without difficulty. In a simulated power-on condition the model had a constant-amplitude rolling and sidewise motion and when the collar was layered, a violent motion resulted if the collar struck the model but failed to hold it in the proper manner. Folding of the wings and retraction into the bomb bay offered no problem once the airplane was properly held by the collar. It is recommended that the power be cut immediately after hooking on and that a restricting mechanism be incorporated in the center of the trapeze to eliminate the sidewise motion. It also appears desirable to have the retracting procedure controlled by the XP-85 pilot or an observer in the mother ship to insure that the parasite is in proper position after hooking up before bringing the collar down.

  20. New Tests of the Fixed Hotspot Approximation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gordon, R. G.; Andrews, D. L.; Horner-Johnson, B. C.; Kumar, R. R.

    2005-05-01

    We present new methods for estimating uncertainties in plate reconstructions relative to the hotspots and new tests of the fixed hotspot approximation. We find no significant motion between Pacific hotspots, on the one hand, and Indo-Atlantic hotspots, on the other, for the past ~ 50 Myr, but large and significant apparent motion before 50 Ma. Whether this motion is truly due to motion between hotspots or alternatively due to flaws in the global plate motion circuit can be tested with paleomagnetic data. These tests give results consistent with the fixed hotspot approximation and indicate significant misfits when a relative plate motion circuit through Antarctica is employed for times before 50 Ma. If all of the misfit to the global plate motion circuit is due to motion between East and West Antarctica, then that motion is 800 ± 500 km near the Ross Sea Embayment and progressively less along the Trans-Antarctic Mountains toward the Weddell Sea. Further paleomagnetic tests of the fixed hotspot approximation can be made. Cenozoic and Cretaceous paleomagnetic data from the Pacific plate, along with reconstructions of the Pacific plate relative to the hotspots, can be used to estimate an apparent polar wander (APW) path of Pacific hotspots. An APW path of Indo-Atlantic hotspots can be similarly estimated (e.g. Besse & Courtillot 2002). If both paths diverge in similar ways from the north pole of the hotspot reference frame, it would indicate that the hotspots have moved in unison relative to the spin axis, which may be attributed to true polar wander. If the two paths diverge from one another, motion between Pacific hotspots and Indo-Atlantic hotspots would be indicated. The general agreement of the two paths shows that the former is more important than the latter. The data require little or no motion between groups of hotspots, but up to ~10 mm/yr of motion is allowed within uncertainties. The results disagree, in particular, with the recent extreme interpretation of Tarduno et al. [2003], who assume (1) that motion of the Indo-Atlantic hotspots relative to the spin axis can be ignored during the past 85 Myr, and (2) that the Hawaiian hotspot has been fixed relative to the spin axis since the age of the Hawaiian-Emperor bend. Our results indicate that both assumptions are false.

  1. On the spontaneous collective motion of active matter

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Shenshen; Wolynes, Peter G.

    2011-01-01

    Spontaneous directed motion, a hallmark of cell biology, is unusual in classical statistical physics. Here we study, using both numerical and analytical methods, organized motion in models of the cytoskeleton in which constituents are driven by energy-consuming motors. Although systems driven by small-step motors are described by an effective temperature and are thus quiescent, at higher order in step size, both homogeneous and inhomogeneous, flowing and oscillating behavior emerges. Motors that respond with a negative susceptibility to imposed forces lead to an apparent negative-temperature system in which beautiful structures form resembling the asters seen in cell division. PMID:21876141

  2. On the spontaneous collective motion of active matter.

    PubMed

    Wang, Shenshen; Wolynes, Peter G

    2011-09-13

    Spontaneous directed motion, a hallmark of cell biology, is unusual in classical statistical physics. Here we study, using both numerical and analytical methods, organized motion in models of the cytoskeleton in which constituents are driven by energy-consuming motors. Although systems driven by small-step motors are described by an effective temperature and are thus quiescent, at higher order in step size, both homogeneous and inhomogeneous, flowing and oscillating behavior emerges. Motors that respond with a negative susceptibility to imposed forces lead to an apparent negative-temperature system in which beautiful structures form resembling the asters seen in cell division.

  3. Newton's Strange Collisions.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Erlichson, Herman

    1995-01-01

    Discusses Newton's apparent oversight of the role of energy considerations in collisions between two spherical bodies related to the third corollary of his "Laws of Motion." Investigates several theories that provide solutions to the mysterious oversight. (LZ)

  4. Dynamic facilitation explains 'democratic' particle motion of metabasin transitions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hedges, Lester O.; Garrahan, Juan P.

    2008-08-01

    Transitions between metabasins in supercooled liquids seem to occur through rapid collective particle rearrangements. These events have been called 'democratic' as they appear homogeneous over a significant number of particles. This could suggest that 'democratic' rearrangements are fundamentally distinct to those leading to dynamic heterogeneity. Here we show, however, that this apparent homogeneous particle motion can be explained solely in terms of dynamic facilitation, and is therefore intriniscally heterogeneous. We do so by studying metabasin transitions in facilitated spin models and constrained lattice gases. We find that metabasin transitions occur through a sequence of locally facilitated events taking place over a relatively short time frame. When observed on small enough spatial windows these events appear sudden and homogeneous. Our results indicate that metabasin transitions, while apparently homogeneous and 'democratic', are yet another manifestation of dynamical heterogeneity in glass formers.

  5. Bias to experience approaching motion in a three-dimensional virtual environment.

    PubMed

    Lewis, Clifford F; McBeath, Michael K

    2004-01-01

    We used two-frame apparent motion in a three-dimensional virtual environment to test whether observers had biases to experience approaching or receding motion in depth. Observers viewed a tunnel of tiles receding in depth, that moved ambiguously either toward or away from them. We found that observers exhibited biases to experience approaching motion. The strengths of the biases were decreased when stimuli pointed away, but size of the display screen had no effect. Tests with diamond-shaped tiles that varied in the degree of pointing asymmetry resulted in a linear trend in which the bias was strongest for stimuli pointing toward the viewer, and weakest for stimuli pointing away. We show that the overall bias to experience approaching motion is consistent with a computational strategy of matching corresponding features between adjacent foreshortened stimuli in consecutive visual frames. We conclude that there are both adaptational and geometric reasons to favor the experience of approaching motion.

  6. Maggi's equations of motion and the determination of constraint reactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Papastavridis, John G.

    1990-04-01

    This paper presents a geometrical derivation of the constraint reaction-free equations of Maggi for mechanical systems subject to linear (first-order) nonholonomic and/or holonomic constraints. These results follow directly from the proper application of the concepts of virtual displacement and quasi-coordinates to the variational equation of motion, i.e., Lagrange's principle. The method also makes clear how to compute the constraint reactions (kinetostatics) without introducing Lagrangian multipliers.

  7. The Proper Motion of Palomar 5

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fritz, T. K.; Kallivayalil, N.

    2015-10-01

    Palomar 5 (Pal 5) is a faint halo globular cluster associated with narrow tidal tails. It is a useful system to understand the process of tidal dissolution, as well as to constrain the potential of the Milky Way. A well-determined orbit for Pal 5 would enable detailed study of these open questions. We present here the first CCD-based proper motion measurement of Pal 5 obtained using SDSS as a first epoch and new Large Binocular Telescope/Large Binocular Camera (LBC) images as a second, giving a baseline of 15 years. We perform relative astrometry, using SDSS as a distortion-free reference, and images of the cluster and also of the Pal 5 stream for the derivation of the distortion correction for LBC. The reference frame is made up of background galaxies. We correct for differential chromatic refraction using relations obtained from SDSS colors as well as from flux-calibrated spectra, finding that the correction relations for stars and for galaxies are different. We obtain μα = -2.296 ± 0.186 mas yr-1 and μδ = -2.257 ± 0.181 mas yr-1 for the proper motion of Pal 5. We use this motion, and the publicly available code galpy, to model the disruption of Pal 5 in different Milky Way models consisting of a bulge, a disk, and a spherical dark matter halo. Our fits to the observed stream properties (streak and radial velocity gradient) result in a preference for a relatively large Pal 5 distance of around 24 kpc. A slightly larger absolute proper motion than what we measure also results in better matches but the best solutions need a change in distance. We find that a spherical Milky Way model, with V0 = 220 km s-1 and V20 kpc, i.e., approximately at the apocenter of Pal 5, of 218 km s-1, can match the data well, at least for our choice of disk and bulge parametrization. Based on LBT data. The LBT is an international collaboration among institutions in the United States, Italy and Germany. LBT Corporation partners are: The Ohio State University, and The Research Corporation, on behalf of The University of Notre Dame, University of Minnesota and University of Virginia; LBT Beteiligungsgesellschaft, Germany, representing the Max-Planck Society, the Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, and Heidelberg University; the University of Arizona on behalf of the Arizona university system; and Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Italy.

  8. Feasibility of Measuring Mean Vertical Motion for Estimating Advection. Chapter 6

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Vickers, Dean; Mahrt, L.

    2005-01-01

    Numerous recent studies calculate horizontal and vertical advection terms for budget studies of net ecosystem exchange of carbon. One potential uncertainty in such studies is the estimate of mean vertical motion. This work addresses the reliability of vertical advection estimates by contrasting the vertical motion obtained from the standard practise of measuring the vertical velocity and applying a tilt correction, to the vertical motion calculated from measurements of the horizontal divergence of the flow using a network of towers. Results are compared for three different tilt correction methods. Estimates of mean vertical motion are sensitive to the choice of tilt correction method. The short-term mean (10 to 60 minutes) vertical motion based on the horizontal divergence is more realistic compared to the estimates derived from the standard practise. The divergence shows long-term mean (days to months) sinking motion at the site, apparently due to the surface roughness change. Because all the tilt correction methods rely on the assumption that the long-term mean vertical motion is zero for a given wind direction, they fail to reproduce the vertical motion based on the divergence.

  9. Detecting a rotation in the ɛ Eridani debris disc

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Poulton, C. J.; Greaves, J. S.; Collier Cameron, A.

    2006-10-01

    The evidence for a rotation of the ɛ Eridani debris disc is examined. Data at 850-μm wavelength were previously obtained using the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) over periods of 1997-1998 and 2000-2002. By χ2 fitting after shift and rotation operations, images from these two epochs were compared to recover proper motion and orbital motion of the disc. The same procedures were then performed on simulated images to estimate the accuracy of the results. Minima in the χ2 plots indicate a motion of the disc of approximately 0.6 arcsec per year in the direction of the star's proper motion. This underestimates the true value of 1 arcsec per year, implying that some of the structure in the disc region is not associated with ɛ Eridani, originating instead from background galaxies. From the χ2 fitting for orbital motion, a counterclockwise rotation rate of per year is deduced. Comparisons with simulated data in which the disc is not rotating show that noise and background galaxies result in approximately Gaussian fluctuations with a standard deviation of per year. Thus, counterclockwise rotation of disc features is supported at approximately a 2σ level, after a 4-yr time difference. This rate is faster than the Keplerian rate of per year for features at ~65 au from the star, suggesting their motion is tracking a planet inside the dust ring. Future observations with SCUBA-2 can rule out no rotation of the ɛ Eridani dust clumps with ~4σ confidence. Assuming a rate of about per year, the rotation of the features after a 10-yr period could be shown to be >=1° per year at the 3σ level.

  10. A new Late Cretaceous paleomagnetic pole from the Adel Mountains, west central Montana

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gunderson, Jay A.; Sheriff, Steven D.

    1991-01-01

    North America's apparent polar wander path has been poorly defined between the mid-Cretaceous and Paleocene reference pole positions. Existing data allowed 13° of apparent polar motion over about 22 m.y. (87-65 Ma) roughly coinciding with the beginning of Laramide deformation (˜80 Ma). We report on a paleomagnetic study of the Adel Mountain Volcanic rocks to refine the North American apparent polar wander path for this interval. The shonkinite rocks of the Adel Mountain Volcanic field are on the eastern edge of the Cretaceous-Paleocene fold and thrust belt; some of these structures disturb the western edge of the volcanic pile. We obtained two new K-Ar dates from the Adel rocks. One date, on biotite ( from a shonkinite dike that crosscuts most of the volcanic rocks, is 71.2±2.7 Ma. The other, a whole rock date from a flow deep in the volcanic pile, is 81.1±3.5 Ma. We collected six to nine paleomagnetic samples from each of 34 sites in roadcuts and natural outcrops of flows, dikes, and laccoliths. Positive fold and conglomerate tests, along with alternating field and thermal demagnetization, indicate that our characteristic remanent directions are primary magnetizations acquired before Late Cretaceous to Paleocene thrust belt deformation. Averaging the virtual geomagnetic poles from 26 reliable sites, all of normal polarity, yields a paleopole at 82.2°N, 209.9°E (α95 = 6.80°, k = 18.38). This pole is concordant with the Paleocene reference pole (82.0°N, 170.2°E, α95 = 3.5°, k = 18.6 (Diehl et al., 1983)) and is 11.6° from the Globerman and Irving (1988) mid-Cretaceous pole at 71°N, 196°E. The youngest information in the Cretaceous stillstand pole is from the Niobrara Formation (Shive and Frerichs, 1974) at about 85-89 Ma. If we take the average age of the Adel Mountain Volcanics to be 76 Ma, then ˜12° of apparent polar motion occurred between 87 Ma and 76 Ma. Thus, rapid apparent polar motion correlates well with the onset of Laramide deformation.

  11. Integrated thermal infrared imaging and Structure-from-Motion photogrametry to map apparent temperature and radiant hydrothermal heat flux at Mammoth Mountain, CA USA

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Lewis, Aaron; George Hilley,; Lewicki, Jennifer L.

    2015-01-01

    This work presents a method to create high-resolution (cm-scale) orthorectified and georeferenced maps of apparent surface temperature and radiant hydrothermal heat flux and estimate the radiant hydrothermal heat emission rate from a study area. A ground-based thermal infrared (TIR) camera was used to collect (1) a set of overlapping and offset visible imagery around the study area during the daytime and (2) time series of co-located visible and TIR imagery at one or more sites within the study area from pre-dawn to daytime. Daytime visible imagery was processed using the Structure-from-Motion photogrammetric method to create a digital elevation model onto which pre-dawn TIR imagery was orthorectified and georeferenced. Three-dimensional maps of apparent surface temperature and radiant hydrothermal heat flux were then visualized and analyzed from various computer platforms (e.g., Google Earth, ArcGIS). We demonstrate this method at the Mammoth Mountain fumarole area on Mammoth Mountain, CA. Time-averaged apparent surface temperatures and radiant hydrothermal heat fluxes were observed up to 73.7 oC and 450 W m-2, respectively, while the estimated radiant hydrothermal heat emission rate from the area was 1.54 kW. Results should provide a basis for monitoring potential volcanic unrest and mitigating hydrothermal heat-related hazards on the volcano.

  12. Motion of the Earth as viewed from the moon and the Y-suspended pendulum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Crowell, A. D.

    1981-05-01

    In the early nineteeth century, James Dean, the first Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at the University of Vermont, published a paper describing the effects of the librations of the moon on the apparent motion of the Earth in the sky of the moon. He noted that this motion could be simulated by the motion of a Y-suspended pendulum. Within a short time, Nathaniel Bowditch, the self-taught mathematician, navigator, and actuary, published a complete analysis of the two-dimensional oscillator, including derivations and drawings of the mathematical curves usually known as Lissajous figures, some forty years before their description by J. A. Lissajous. This paper gives an account of the contributions of Dean and Bowditch to this problem.

  13. Non-rigid Motion Correction in 3D Using Autofocusing with Localized Linear Translations

    PubMed Central

    Cheng, Joseph Y.; Alley, Marcus T.; Cunningham, Charles H.; Vasanawala, Shreyas S.; Pauly, John M.; Lustig, Michael

    2012-01-01

    MR scans are sensitive to motion effects due to the scan duration. To properly suppress artifacts from non-rigid body motion, complex models with elements such as translation, rotation, shear, and scaling have been incorporated into the reconstruction pipeline. However, these techniques are computationally intensive and difficult to implement for online reconstruction. On a sufficiently small spatial scale, the different types of motion can be well-approximated as simple linear translations. This formulation allows for a practical autofocusing algorithm that locally minimizes a given motion metric – more specifically, the proposed localized gradient-entropy metric. To reduce the vast search space for an optimal solution, possible motion paths are limited to the motion measured from multi-channel navigator data. The novel navigation strategy is based on the so-called “Butterfly” navigators which are modifications to the spin-warp sequence that provide intrinsic translational motion information with negligible overhead. With a 32-channel abdominal coil, sufficient number of motion measurements were found to approximate possible linear motion paths for every image voxel. The correction scheme was applied to free-breathing abdominal patient studies. In these scans, a reduction in artifacts from complex, non-rigid motion was observed. PMID:22307933

  14. Roll tracking effects of G-vector tilt and various types of motion washout

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jex, H. R.; Magdaleno, R. E.; Junker, A. M.

    1978-01-01

    In a dogfight scenario, the task was to follow the target's roll angle while suppressing gust disturbances. All subjects adopted the same behavioral strategies in following the target while suppressing the gusts, and the MFP-fitted math model response was generally within one data symbol width. The results include the following: (1) comparisons of full roll motion (both with and without the spurious gravity tilt cue) with the static case. These motion cues help suppress disturbances with little net effect on the visual performance. Tilt cues were clearly used by the pilots but gave only small improvement in tracking errors. (2) The optimum washout (in terms of performance close to real world, similar behavioral parameters, significant motion attenuation (60 percent), and acceptable motion fidelity) was the combined attenuation and first-order washout. (3) Various trends in parameters across the motion conditions were apparent, and are discussed with respect to a comprehensive model for predicting adaptation to various roll motion cues.

  15. Search and characterization of T-type planetary mass candidates in the σ Orionis cluster

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peña Ramírez, K.; Zapatero Osorio, M. R.; Béjar, V. J. S.; Rebolo, R.; Bihain, G.

    2011-08-01

    Context. The proper characterization of the least massive population of the young σ Orionis star cluster is required to understand the form of the cluster mass function and its impact on our comprehension of the substellar formation processes. S Ori 70 (T5.5 ± 1) and 73, two T-type cluster member candidates, are likely to have masses between 3 and 7 MJup if their age is 3 Myr. It awaits confirmation whether S Ori 73 has a methane atmosphere. Aims: We aim to: i) confirm the presence of methane absorption in S Ori 73 by performing methane imaging; ii) study S Ori 70 and 73 cluster membership via photometric colors and accurate proper motion analysis; and iii) perform a new search to identify additional T-type σ Orionis member candidates. Methods: We obtained HAWK-I (VLT) J, H, and CH4off photometry of an area of 119.15 arcmin2 in σ Orionis down to Jcomp = 21.7 and Hcomp = 21 mag. S Ori 70 and 73 are contained in the explored area. Near-infrared data were complemented with optical photometry using images acquired with OSIRIS (GTC) and VISTA as part of the VISTA Orion survey. Color-magnitude and color-color diagrams were constructed to characterize S Ori 70 and 73 photometrically, and to identify new objects with methane absorption and masses below 7 MJup. We derived proper motions by comparing of the new HAWK-I and VISTA images with published near-infrared data taken 3.4 - 7.9 yr ago. Results.S Ori 73 has a red H - CH4off color indicating methane absorption in the H-band and a spectral type of T4 ± 1. S Ori 70 displays a redder methane color than S Ori 73 in agreement with its latter spectral classification. Our proper motion measurements (μα cos δ = 26.7 ± 6.1, μδ = 21.3 ± 6.1 mas yr-1 for S Ori 70, and μα cos δ = 46.7 ± 4.9, μδ = -6.3 ± 4.7 mas yr-1 for S Ori 73) are larger than the motion of σ Orionis, rendering S Ori 70 and 73 cluster membership uncertain. From our survey, we identified one new photometric candidate with J = 21.69 ± 0.12 mag and methane color consistent with spectral type ≥ T8. Conclusions.S Ori 73 has colors similar to those of T3-T5 field dwarfs, which in addition to its high proper motion suggests that it is probably a field dwarf located at 170-200 pc. The origin of S Ori 70 remains unclear: it can be a field, foreground mid- to late-T free-floating dwarf with peculiar colors, or an orphan planet ejected through strong dynamical interactions from σ Orionis or from a nearby star-forming region in Orion.

  16. Moon Illusion: An Observation.

    PubMed

    Goldstein, G

    1962-12-21

    Size comparisons of the moon are made from different locations by direct viewing (as opposed to comparisons by instrumental techniques). Under the proper conditions, the illusion is seen while the moon's position remains essentially unaltered. By this means, evidence is adduced in favor of Ptolemy's apparent-distance hypothesis.

  17. The Origin Billions Star Survey: Galactic Explorer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-10-18

    Using OBSS, it will be possible to measure proper motions of galaxies (the motion in the plane of the sky) out to the distance of the Virgo Cluster ...within the Milky Way, as well as the local group toward the Virgo Cluster , will also be discerned at the microarcsecond level. All of this will be...supercluster of galaxies, dark matter, star for- mation, open clusters , the solar system, and the celestial ref- erence frame. This research was supported by

  18. Space Interferometry Mission: Dynamical Observations of Galaxies (SIMDOG)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shaya, Edward J.; Borne, Kirk D.; Nusser, Adi; Peebles, P. J. E.; Tonry, John; Tully, Brent R.; Vogel, Stuart; Zaritsky, Dennis

    2004-01-01

    Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) will be used to obtain proper motions for a sample of 27 galaxies; the first proper motion measurements of galaxies beyond the satellite system of the Milky Way. SIM measurements lead to knowledge of the full 6-dimensional position and velocity vector of each galaxy. In conjunction with new gravitational flow models, the result will be the first total mass measurements of individual galaxies. The project, includes developnient of powerful theoretical methods for orbital calculations. This SIM study will lead to vastly improved determinations of individual galaxy masses, halo sizes, and the fractional contribution of dark matter. Astronomers have struggled to calculate the orbits of galaxies with only position and redshift information. Traditional N-body techniques are unsuitable for an analysis backward in time from a present distribution if any components of velocity or position are not very precisely known.

  19. South Galactic Cap u-band Sky Survey (SCUSS): Data Release

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zou, Hu; Zhou, Xu; Jiang, Zhaoji; Peng, Xiyan; Fan, Dongwei; Fan, Xiaohui; Fan, Zhou; He, Boliang; Jing, Yipeng; Lesser, Michael; Li, Cheng; Ma, Jun; Nie, Jundan; Shen, Shiyin; Wang, Jiali; Wu, Zhenyu; Zhang, Tianmeng; Zhou, Zhimin

    2016-02-01

    The South Galactic Cap u-band Sky Survey (SCUSS) is a deep u-band imaging survey in the south Galactic cap using the 2.3 m Bok telescope. The survey observations were completed at the end of 2013, covering an area of about 5000 square degrees. We release the data in the region with an area of about 4000 deg2 that is mostly covered by the Sloan digital sky survey. The data products contain calibrated single-epoch images, stacked images, photometric catalogs, and a catalog of star proper motions derived by Peng et al. The median seeing and magnitude limit (5σ) are about 2.″0 and 23.2 mag, respectively. There are about 8 million objects having measurements of absolute proper motions. All the data and related documentations can be accessed through the SCUSS data release website http://batc.bao.ac.cn/Uband/data.html.

  20. Discovery of Two New Hypervelocity Stars from the LAMOST Spectroscopic Surveys

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Huang, Y.; Liu, X.-W.; Chen, B.-Q.

    We report the discovery of two new unbound hypervelocity stars (HVSs) from the LAMOST spectroscopic surveys. They are, respectively, a B2V-type star of ∼7 M {sub ⊙} with a Galactic rest-frame radial velocity of 502 km s{sup −1} at a Galactocentric radius of ∼21 kpc and a B7V-type star of ∼4 M {sub ⊙} with a Galactic rest-frame radial velocity of 408 km s{sup −1} at a Galactocentric radius of ∼30 kpc. The origins of the two HVSs are not clear given their currently poorly measured proper motions. However, the future data releases of Gaia should provide proper motion measurementsmore » accurate enough to solve this problem. The ongoing LAMOST spectroscopic surveys are expected to yield more HVSs to form a statistical sample, providing vital constraints on understanding the nature of HVSs and their ejection mechanisms.« less

  1. The Liverpool-Edinburgh high proper motion catalogue

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pokorny, R. S.; Jones, H. R. A.; Hambly, N. C.; Pinfield, D. J.

    2004-07-01

    We present a machine selected catalogue of 11 289 objects with proper motions exceeding 0.18 arcsec yr-1 and an R-band faint magnitude limit of 19.5 mag. The catalogue was produced using SuperCOSMOS digitized R-Band ESO and UK Schmidt Plates in 287 Schmidt fields covering almost 7000 square degrees (˜17% of the whole sky) at the South Galactic Cap. The catalogue includes UK Schmidt BJ and I magnitudes for all of the stars as well as 2MASS magnitudes for 10,447 of the catalogue stars. We also show that the NLTT is ˜95% complete for Dec > -32.5°. The full Table \\ref{tab1} is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/421/763

  2. SIMP: A Near-Infrared Proper Motion Survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Artigau, Étienne; Lafrenière, David; Doyon, René; Albert, Loïc; Robert, Jasmin; Malo, Lison

    2009-02-01

    SIMP is a proper motion (PM) survey made with the Observatoire du Mont Mégantic (OMM) wide-field near-infrared camera CPAPIR at the CTIO 1.5 m and OMM 1.6 m telescopes. The SIMP observations were initiated in early 2005, are still ongoing and, to date, have covered 28% of the sky at high galactic latitudes. The PMs of the sources detected are determined by comparing their measured positions with those listed in the 2MASS point source catalog, giving a time baseline of 4 to 10 years. The 5 σ uncertainty on the relative SIMP and 2MASS astrometry is 1'', equivalent to a PM lower limit of 0.125-0.250''/yr, or a tangential velocity limit of 15-30 km/s at 25 pc. Up to the 2MASS magnitude limit (J~16.5), T dwarfs are found out to ~25 pc, while L dwarfs may be found as far as 100 pc away.

  3. Determination of the masses of globular clusters using proper motions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ninkovich, S.

    1984-09-01

    Published proper motions of stars in the fields of the globular clusters M 15, M 92, and M 13 (Cudworth, 1976 Cudworth and Monet, 1979) are compiled in tables and used to estimate the masses of the clusters by the method of Naumova and Ogorodnikov (1973). Masses of the order of 10 to the 8th solar mass are calculated, as compared to an M 13 mass of about 10 to the 6th solar mass determined by the virial theorem. The higher masses are considered indicative of the actual cluster masses despite the distortion introduced by the presence in the fieldmore » of stars not belonging to the clusters. It is suggested that the difference between these estimates and the smaller masses proposed by previous authors may represent unobservable peripheral dwarf stars or some invisible mass (like the so-called missing mass of the Galaxy).« less

  4. SAND: an automated VLBI imaging and analysing pipeline - I. Stripping component trajectories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, M.; Collioud, A.; Charlot, P.

    2018-02-01

    We present our implementation of an automated very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) data-reduction pipeline that is dedicated to interferometric data imaging and analysis. The pipeline can handle massive VLBI data efficiently, which makes it an appropriate tool to investigate multi-epoch multiband VLBI data. Compared to traditional manual data reduction, our pipeline provides more objective results as less human interference is involved. The source extraction is carried out in the image plane, while deconvolution and model fitting are performed in both the image plane and the uv plane for parallel comparison. The output from the pipeline includes catalogues of CLEANed images and reconstructed models, polarization maps, proper motion estimates, core light curves and multiband spectra. We have developed a regression STRIP algorithm to automatically detect linear or non-linear patterns in the jet component trajectories. This algorithm offers an objective method to match jet components at different epochs and to determine their proper motions.

  5. Blue Stragglers and Other Stars of Mass Consumption in Globular Clusters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Panurach, Teresa; Leigh, Nathan

    2018-01-01

    Simulations of globular clusters suggest that collisions between main-sequence (MS) stars happen frequently. Stellar evolution models show that these collision products can be photometrically identified, appearing off the MS locus. These collision products can appear brighter and bluer than the MS turnoff, called “blue stragglers,” or even less massive and redder than the MS. We use proper motion-cleaned photometry from the Hubble Space Telescope of 38 globular clusters to identify candidate collision products. We compare the spectral energy distributions of our candidates to theoretical templates for single and multiple star systems, to constrain the possible presence of a binary companion and test consistency with theoretical stellar evolution models for collision products. For the BSs, we also compare the observed velocities from the proper motion catalog along with mass estimates derived from isochrone-fitting to theoretical predictions for both the collision and binary mass transfer models and find better agreement with the former.

  6. Characterizing the Resolved M6 Dwarf Twin LP 318-218AB

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moreno Hilario, Elizabeth; Burgasser, Adam J.; Bardalez Gagliuffi, Daniella; Tamiya, Tomoki

    2017-01-01

    The lowest-mass stars and brown dwarfs are among the most common objects in the Milky Way Galaxy, but theories of their formation and evolution remain poorly constrained. Binary systems are important for understanding the formation of these objects and for making direct orbit and mass measurements to validate evolutionary theories. We report the discovery of LP 318-218, a high proper motion late M dwarf, as a near equal-brightness binary system with a separation of 0.72 arcseconds. Resolved near-infrared spectroscopy confirms the components as nearly identical M6 twins. We using our resolved photometry and spectroscopy to estimate the distance, projected separation and tangential velocity of the system, and confirm common proper motion. We also perform atmosphere model fits to the resolved spectra to assess their physical properties. We place LP 318-218 in context with other widely-separated late M dwarf binaries.

  7. A Generalized Method for Automatic Downhand and Wirefeed Control of a Welding Robot and Positioner

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fernandez, Ken; Cook, George E.

    1988-01-01

    A generalized method for controlling a six degree-of-freedom (DOF) robot and a two DOF positioner used for arc welding operations is described. The welding path is defined in the part reference frame, and robot/positioner joint angles of the equivalent eight DOF serial linkage are determined via an iterative solution. Three algorithms are presented: the first solution controls motion of the eight DOF mechanism such that proper torch motion is achieved while minimizing the sum-of-squares of joint displacements; the second algorithm adds two constraint equations to achieve torch control while maintaining part orientation so that welding occurs in the downhand position; and the third algorithm adds the ability to control the proper orientation of a wire feed mechanism used in gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding operations. A verification of these algorithms is given using ROBOSIM, a NASA developed computer graphic simulation software package design for robot systems development.

  8. Quantum Darwinism in Quantum Brownian Motion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blume-Kohout, Robin; Zurek, Wojciech H.

    2008-12-01

    Quantum Darwinism—the redundant encoding of information about a decohering system in its environment—was proposed to reconcile the quantum nature of our Universe with apparent classicality. We report the first study of the dynamics of quantum Darwinism in a realistic model of decoherence, quantum Brownian motion. Prepared in a highly squeezed state—a macroscopic superposition—the system leaves records whose redundancy increases rapidly with initial delocalization. Redundancy appears rapidly (on the decoherence time scale) and persists for a long time.

  9. Quantum Darwinism in quantum Brownian motion.

    PubMed

    Blume-Kohout, Robin; Zurek, Wojciech H

    2008-12-12

    Quantum Darwinism--the redundant encoding of information about a decohering system in its environment--was proposed to reconcile the quantum nature of our Universe with apparent classicality. We report the first study of the dynamics of quantum Darwinism in a realistic model of decoherence, quantum Brownian motion. Prepared in a highly squeezed state--a macroscopic superposition--the system leaves records whose redundancy increases rapidly with initial delocalization. Redundancy appears rapidly (on the decoherence time scale) and persists for a long time.

  10. Computerized Biophysical Data Acquisition System for Motion Sickness Studies.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-12-01

    biofeedback in Autogenic Feedback Training (AFT). Dr. Patricia Cowings of 1- 1 NASA-Ames Research Center has also successfully used AFT in her studies (7...analysis can be completed. Summary of Current Knowledge Researchers have approached the problem of motion sick- ness in several ways. One approach is to...that the technique is not "black magic" (17). Despite apparent successes by Dr. Levy and others, notably Dr. Patricia Cowings of the NASA-Ames Research

  11. One more neighbor: The first brown dwarf in the VVV survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beamín, J. C.; Minniti, D.; Gromadzki, M.; Kurtev, R.; Ivanov, V. D.; Beletsky, Y.; Lucas, P.; Saito, R. K.; Borissova, J.

    2013-09-01

    Context. The discovery of brown dwarfs (BDs) in the solar neighborhood and young star clusters has helped to constraint the low-mass end of the stellar mass function and the initial mass function. We use data of the Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV), a near-infrared (NIR) multi-wavelength (ZYJHKs) multi-epoch (Ks) ESO Public Survey mapping the Milky Way bulge and southern Galactic plane to search for nearby BDs. Aims: The ultimate aim of the project is to improve the completeness of the census of nearby stellar and substellar objects towards the Galactic bulge and inner disk regions. Methods: Taking advantage of the homogeneous sample of VVV multi-epoch data, we identified stars with high proper motion ( ≥ 0.1'' yr-1), and then selected low-mass objects using NIR colors. We searched for a possible parallax signature using the all available Ks band epochs. We set some constraints on the month-to-year scale Ks band variability of our candidates, and even searched for possible transiting companions. We obtained NIR spectra to properly classify spectral type and then the physical properties of the final list of candidates. Results: We report the discovery of VVV BD001, a new member of the local volume-limited sample (within 20 pc from the Sun) with well defined proper motion, distance, and luminosity. The spectral type of this new object is an L5 ± 1, unusually blue dwarf. The proper motion for this BD is PM(α) = -0.5455 ± 0.004'' yr-1, PM(δ) = -0.3255 ± 0.004'' yr-1, and it has a parallax of 57 ± 4 mas which translates into a distance of 17.5 ± 1.1 pc. VVV BD001 shows no evidence of variability (ΔKs < 0.05 mag) over two years, especially constrained on a six month scale during the year 2012. Based on observations taken within the ESO VISTA Public Survey VVV, Programme ID 179.B-2002.

  12. A procedure to select ground-motion time histories for deterministic seismic hazard analysis from the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) database

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Duruo; Du, Wenqi; Zhu, Hong

    2017-10-01

    In performance-based seismic design, ground-motion time histories are needed for analyzing dynamic responses of nonlinear structural systems. However, the number of ground-motion data at design level is often limited. In order to analyze seismic performance of structures, ground-motion time histories need to be either selected from recorded strong-motion database or numerically simulated using stochastic approaches. In this paper, a detailed procedure to select proper acceleration time histories from the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) database for several cities in Taiwan is presented. Target response spectra are initially determined based on a local ground-motion prediction equation under representative deterministic seismic hazard analyses. Then several suites of ground motions are selected for these cities using the Design Ground Motion Library (DGML), a recently proposed interactive ground-motion selection tool. The selected time histories are representatives of the regional seismic hazard and should be beneficial to earthquake studies when comprehensive seismic hazard assessments and site investigations are unavailable. Note that this method is also applicable to site-specific motion selections with the target spectra near the ground surface considering the site effect.

  13. The vestibulo-ocular reflex and its possible roles in space motion sickness

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Watt, Douglas G. D.

    1987-01-01

    Prolonged exposure to an inappropriate vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) will usually lead to motion sickness, and it has been predicted on theoretical grounds that VOR gain may be decreased in weightlessness. While experiments during parabolic flight in aircraft tend to confirm this prediction, experiments during orbital spaceflight have led to apparently contradictory results. It is suggested that VOR gain is reduced initially, but that rapid compensatory mechanisms restore it to normal within minutes of reaching weightlessness. However, even though this process may lead to the rapid return of functionally normal gaze stability, it may not protect against the development of motion sickness.

  14. Autogenic-feedback training - A treatment for motion and space sickness

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cowings, Patricia S.

    1990-01-01

    A training method for preventing the occurrence of motion sickness in humans, called autogenic-feedback training (AFT), is described. AFT is based on a combination of biofeedback and autogenic therapy which involves training physiological self-regulation as an alternative to pharmacological management. AFT was used to reliably increase tolerance to motion-sickness-inducing tests in both men and women ranging in age from 18 to 54 years. The effectiveness of AFT is found to be significantly higher than that of protective adaptation training. Data obtained show that there is no apparent effect from AFT on measures of vestibular perception and no side effects.

  15. LONG-TERM MONITORING OF THE DYNAMICS AND PARTICLE ACCELERATION OF KNOTS IN THE JET OF CENTAURUS A

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Goodger, J. L.; Hardcastle, M. J.; Croston, J. H., E-mail: j.l.goodger@herts.ac.u, E-mail: m.j.hardcastle@herts.ac.u, E-mail: J.Croston@soton.ac.u

    2010-01-01

    We present new and archival multi-frequency radio and X-ray data for Centaurus A obtained over almost 20 years at the Very Large Array and with Chandra, with which we measure the X-ray and radio spectral indices of jet knots, flux density variations in the jet knots, polarization variations, and proper motions. We compare the observed properties with current knot formation models and particle acceleration mechanisms. We rule out impulsive particle acceleration as a formation mechanism for all of the knots as we detect the same population of knots in all of the observations, and we find no evidence of extrememore » variability in the X-ray knots. We find that the most likely mechanism for all the stationary knots is a collision resulting in a local shock followed by a steady state of prolonged, stable particle acceleration, and X-ray synchrotron emission. In this scenario, the X-ray-only knots have radio counterparts that are too faint to be detected, while the radio-only knots are due to weak shocks where no particles are accelerated to X-ray emitting energies. Although the base knots are prime candidates for reconfinement shocks, the presence of a moving knot in this vicinity and the fact that there are two base knots are hard to explain in this model. We detect apparent motion in three knots; however, their velocities and locations provide no conclusive evidence for or against a faster moving 'spine' within the jet. The radio-only knots, both stationary and moving, may be due to compression of the fluid.« less

  16. JASMINE: galactic structure surveyor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouda, Naoteru; Kobayashi, Yukiyasu; Yamada, Yoshiyuki; Yano, Taihei; Tsujimoto, Takuji; Suganuma, Masahiro; Niwa, Yoshito; Yamauchi, Masahiro; Kawakatsu, Yasuhiro; Matsuhara, Hideo; Noda, Atsushi; Tsuiki, Atsuo; Utashima, Masayoshi; Ogawa, Akira

    2006-06-01

    We introduce a Japanese plan of infrared(z-band:0.9μm) space astrometry(JASMINE-project). JASMINE is the satellite (Japan Astrometry Satellite Mission for INfrared Exploration) which will measure distances and apparent motions of stars around the center of the Milky Way with yet unprecedented precision. It will measure parallaxes, positions with the accuracy of 10 micro-arcsec and proper motions with the accuracy of ~ 4microarcsec/ year for stars brighter than z=14mag. JASMINE can observe about ten million stars belonging to the bulge components of our Galaxy, which are hidden by the interstellar dust extinction in optical bands. Number of stars with σ/π < 0.1 in the direction of the Galactic central bulge is about 1000 times larger than those observed in optical bands, where π is a parallax and σ is an error of the parallax. With the completely new "map of the bulge in the Milky Way", it is expected that many new exciting scientific results will be obtained in various fields of astronomy. Presently, JASMINE is in a development phase, with a target launch date around 2015. We adopt the following instrument design of JASMINE in order to get the accurate positions of many stars. A 3-mirrors optical system(modified Korsch system)with a primary mirror of~ 0.85m is one of the candidate for the optical system. On the astro-focal plane, we put dozens of new type of CCDs for z-band to get a wide field of view. The accurate measurements of the astrometric parameters requires the instrument line-of-sight highly stability and the opto-mechanical highly stability of the payload in the JASMINE spacecraft. The consideration of overall system(bus) design is now going on in cooperation with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA).

  17. JASMINE-Astrometric Map of the Galactic Bulge-

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gouda, N.; Kobayashi, Y.; Yamada, Y.; Yano, T.; Tsujimoto, T.; Suganuma, M.; Niwa, Y.; Yamauchi, M.; Kawakatsu, Y.; Matsuhara, H.; Moda, A.; Tsuiki, A.; Utashima, M.; Ogawa, A.; Sako, N.

    2006-08-01

    We introduce a Japanese plan of infrared(z-band:0.9μm) space astrometry (JASMINE-project). JASMINE is the satellite (Japan Astrometry Satellite Mission for INfrared Exploration) which will measure the distances and apparent motions of stars around the center of the Milky Way with yet unprecedented precision. It will measure parallaxes, positions with the accuracy of 10 micro-arcsec and proper motions with the accuracy of 4 micro-arcsec/year for stars brighter than z=14mag. JASMINE can observe about ten million stars belonging to the bulge components of our Galaxy, which are hidden by the interstellar dust extinction in optical bands. Number of stars with sigma/pi <0.1 in the direction of the Galactic central bulge is about 1000 times larger than those observed in optical bands, where pi is a parallax and sigma is an error of the parallax. With the completely new "map of the bulge in the Milky Way", it is expected that many new exciting scientific results will be obtained in various fields of astronomy. We will introduce some scientific topics which will be obtained by JASMINE. Presently, JASMINE is in a development phase, with a target launch date around 2015. We adopt the following instrument design of JASMINE in order to get the accurate positions of many stars. We adopt a 3-mirrors optical system (modified Korsch system) with a primary mirror of 0.75m. On the astro-focal plane, we put dozens of new type of CCDs for z-band to get a wide field of view. The consideration of overall system(bus) design is now going on in cooperation with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The introduction of JASMINE and the present status of the project will be shown in the presentation.

  18. The imprint of proper motion of nonlinear structures on the cosmic microwave background

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tuluie, Robin; Laguna, Pablo

    1995-01-01

    We investigate the imprint of nonlinear matter condensations on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) in an Omega = 1, cold dark matter (CDM) model universe. Temperature anisotropies are obtained by numerically evolving matter inhomogeneities and CMB photons from the beginning of decoupling until the present epoch. The underlying density field produced by the inhomogeneities is followed from the linear, through the weakly clustered, into the fully nonlinear regime. We concentrate on CMB temperature distortions arising from variations in the gravitational potentials of nonlinear structures. We find two sources of temperature fluctuations produced by time-varying potentials: (1) anisotropies due to intrinsic changes in the gravitational potentials of the inhomogeneities and (2) anisotropies generated by the peculiar, bulk motion of the structures across the microwave sky. Both effects generate CMB anisotropies in the range of 10(exp -7) approximately less than or equal to (Delta T/T) approximately less than or equal to 10(exp -6) on scales of approximately 1 deg. For isolated structures, anisotropies due to proper motion exhibit a dipole-like signature in the CMB sky that in principle could yield information on the transverse velocity of the structures.

  19. Incipient- and Developed-Spin and Recovery Characteristics of a Modern High-Speed Fighter Design with Low Aspect Ratio as Determined from Dynamic-Model Tests

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lee, Henry A.; Libbey, Charles E.

    1961-01-01

    Incipient- and developed-spin and recovery characteristics of a modern high-speed fighter design with low aspect ratio have been investigated by means of dynamic model tests. A 1/7-scale radio-controlled model was tested by means of drop tests from a helicopter. Several 1/25-scale models with various configuration changes were tested in the Langley 20-foot free-spinning tunnel. Model results indicated that generally it would be difficult to obtain a developed spin with a corresponding airplane and that either the airplane would recover of its own accord from any poststall motion or the poststall motion could be readily terminated by proper control technique. On occasion, however, the results indicated that if a post-stall motion were allowed to continue, a fully developed spin might be obtainable from which recovery could range from rapid to no recovery at all, even when optimum control technique was used. Satisfactory recoveries could be obtained with a proper-size tail parachute or strake, application of pitching-, rolling-, or yawing-moment rockets, or sufficient differential deflection of the horizontal tail.

  20. Distances, Kinematics, And Structure Of The Orion Complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kounkel, Marina; Hartmann, Lee

    2018-01-01

    I present an analysis of the structure and kinematics of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex in an effort to better characterize the dynamical state of the closest region of ongoing massive star formation. I measured stellar parallax and proper motions with <5% uncertainty using radio VLBI observations of non-thermally-emitting sources located in various star forming regions within the Orion Complex. This includes the first direct distance measurements for sources that are located outside of the Orion Nebula. I identified a number of binary systems in the VLBI dataset and fitted their orbital motion, which allows for the direct measurement of the masses of the individual components. Additionally, I have identified several stars that have been ejected from the Orion Nebula due to strong gravitational interactions with the most massive members. I complemented the parallax and proper motion measurements with the observations of optical radial velocities of the stars toward the Orion Complex, probing the histories of both dynamic evolution and star formation in the region, providing a 6-dimensional model of the Complex. These observations can serve as a baseline for comparison of the upcoming results from the Gaia space telescope

  1. 4U 1907+09: an HMXB running away from the Galactic plane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gvaramadze, V. V.; Röser, S.; Scholz, R.-D.; Schilbach, E.

    2011-05-01

    We report the discovery of a bow shock around the high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) 4U 1907+09 using the Spitzer Space Telescope 24 μm data (after Vela X-1 the second example of bow shocks associated with HMXBs). The detection of the bow shock implies that 4U 1907+09 is moving through space with a high (supersonic) peculiar velocity. To confirm the runaway nature of 4U 1907+09, we measured its proper motion, which for an adopted distance to the system of 4 kpc corresponds to a peculiar transverse velocity of ≃ 160 ± 115 km s-1, meaning that 4U 1907+09 is indeed a runaway system. This also supports the general belief that most HMXBs possess high space velocities. The direction of motion of 4U 1907+09 inferred from the proper motion measurement is consistent with the orientation of the symmetry axis of the bow shock, and shows that the HMXB is running away from the Galactic plane. We also present the Spitzer images of the bow shock around Vela X-1 (a system similar to 4U 1907+09) and compare it with the bow shock generated by 4U 1907+09.

  2. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Nine new open clusters within 500pc from the Sun (Roser+, 2016)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roser, S.; Schilbach, E.; Goldman, B.

    2017-03-01

    We used URAT1 (Zacharias et al., 2015, Cat. I/329) to improve the Tycho-2 proper motions and to test what proper motions, which are more precise than those of Tycho-2 (Hog et al., 2000, Cat. I/259), can do for open cluster studies. URAT1 contains 228 million objects down to about R=18.5 mag, north of about -20° declination. For the bulk of the Tycho-2 stars, URAT1 gives positions at a mean epoch around 2013.5 and an accuracy level of about 20mas per co-ordinate. We cross-matched URAT1 with Tycho-2 (the original data set tyc2.dat from CDS), and obtained new proper motions via a least-squares adjustment as described, for example in PPMXL (Roeser et al., 2010, Cat. I/317). To avoid formally ultra-precise astrometry for a small number of stars, we chose a 10mas floor for the precision of a URAT1 position. The newly detected clusterings are located in the solar neighbourhood at distances below 500pc from the Sun. The candidates RSG1 to RSG8 are very probably genuine physical groups. Membership and astrophysical parameters could be determined sufficiently well. Nevertheless, accurate parallaxes of at least several reliable cluster stars could improve the quality of parameter determination. A definite age cannot be derived for RSG9; this critically depends on the secure membership status of the two brightest stars. Table 1 summarises the astrophysical parameters of the newly found objects. (1 data file).

  3. Validating early stellar encounters as the cause of dynamically hot planetary systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalas, Paul

    2017-08-01

    One of the key questions concerning exoplanetary systems is why some are dynamically cold, such as TRAPPIST-1, whereas others are dynamically hot, with highly eccentric planets and/or perturbed debris disks. Dynamical theory describes a variety of plausible mechanisms, but few can be empirically tested since the critical dynamical evolution that sets the final planetary architecture is short-lived. One rare system available for testing dynamical upheaval scenarios is the 400 Myr-old Fomalhaut system. In Cycle 22 we coronagraphically studied Fomalhaut C, which is a wide M-dwarf companion to Fomalhaut A, in order to test our prediction that the unresolved, Herschel-detected debris disk around Fomalhaut C may be highly perturbed because of a recent close interaction with Fomalhaut A. Using HST/STIS we discovered a highly asymmetric feature extending northward of Fomalhaut C by 3 that resembles our model of a dynamically hot disk. However, it may be a background galaxy and the definitive test of its physical relationship to Fomalhaut C is to demonstrate common proper motion. Using Keck adaptive optics follow-up observations in J band, we did not detect the feature, and hence follow-up HST observations are the only way to test for common proper motion. Here we request a very small program to revisit Fomalhaut C with STIS in order to validate the initial discovery as a debris disk (1 proper motion between HST epochs). The astrophysical significance is demonstrating that the Fomalhaut system is a valuable case for studying dynamical upheavals via stellar encounters that are inferred to occur in the evolution of many other planetary systems.

  4. Luminous Herbig-Haro objects from a massive protostar: The unique case of HH 80/81

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reipurth, Bo

    2017-08-01

    Herbig-Haro (HH) objects are the optical manifestations of shock waves excited by outflows from young stars. They represent one of the few classes of spatially extended astronomical objects where both structural changes and proper motions can be measured on time scales of years to decades. HH 80/81 is a pair of HH objects in Sagittarius which are the intrinsically most luminous HH objects known. The driving source of HH 80/81 is the embedded star IRAS 18162-2048, which has a luminosity of 20,000 Lsun and excites a compact HII region, suggesting that it is a newborn massive star. HH objects associated with massive young stars are very rare, only a handful of cases are known, but what makes the HH 80/81 source unique among massive protostars is that it produces a finely collimated bipolar radio jet with extremely high velocity and pointing straight to HH 80/81. We propose to observe the HH 80/81 complex with WFC3 and the following four filters: Halpha 6563, Hbeta 4861, [SII] 6717/31, and [OIII] 5007. First epoch HST images were obtained 22 years ago, which now allows a very precise determination of proper motions. Groundbased optical and radio proper motions are not only uncertain, but actually contradict each other, a controversy that will be resolved by HST. The fine resolution of WFC3 allows a study of both fine structural details and structural changes of the shocks. Finally we will use a sophisticated adaptive grid code to interpret the (de-reddened) line ratios across the shocks.

  5. Measurement of the X-Ray Proper Motion in the South-East Rim of RXJ1713.7-3946

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Acero, Fabio; Katsuda, Saturo; Ballet, Jean; Petre, Robert

    2017-01-01

    We report on the first proper motion measurement in the supernova remnant RX J1713.73946 using the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope on a 13 yr time interval. This expansion measurement is carried out in the south-east region of the remnant, where two sharp filament structures are observed. For the outermost filament, the proper motion is 0.75(+0.05-0.06) +/- 0.069 syst arcsec/ yr which is equivalent to a shock speed of approx. 3500 km/s at a distance of 1 kpc. In contrast with the bright north-west region, where the shock is interacting with the border of the cavity, the shock in the south-east region is probably expanding in the original ambient medium carved by the progenitor and can be used to derive the current density at the shock and the age of the remnant. In the case where the shock is evolving in a wind profile (p varies as r(sup -s), s = 2) or in a uniform medium (s = 0), we estimate an age of approx. 2300 yr and approx.1800 yr respectively for an ejecta power-law index of n = 9. The specific case of an ejecta power-law index of n = 7, and s = 0, yields an age of approx. 1500 yr, which would reconcile RX J1713.73946 with the historical records of SN 393. In all scenarios, we derive similar upstream densities of the order of 0.01/cu cm, compatible with the lack of thermal X-rays from the shocked ambient medium.

  6. Measurement of the X-ray proper motion in the south-east rim of RX J1713.7-3946

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Acero, Fabio; Katsuda, Satoru; Ballet, Jean; Petre, Robert

    2017-01-01

    We report on the first proper motion measurement in the supernova remnant RX J1713.7-3946 using the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope on a 13 yr time interval. This expansion measurement is carried out in the south-east region of the remnant, where two sharp filament structures are observed. For the outermost filament, the proper motion is arcsec yr-1 which is equivalent to a shock speed of 3500 km s-1 at a distance of 1 kpc. In contrast with the bright north-west region, where the shock is interacting with the border of the cavity, the shock in the south-east region is probably expanding in the original ambient medium carved by the progenitor and can be used to derive the current density at the shock and the age of the remnant. In the case where the shock is evolving in a wind profile (ρ ∝ r- s, s = 2) or in a uniform medium (s = 0), we estimate an age of 2300 yr and 1800 yr respectively for an ejecta power-law index of n = 9. The specific case of an ejecta power-law index of n = 7, and s = 0, yields an age of 1500 yr, which would reconcile RX J1713.7-3946 with the historical records of SN 393. In all scenarios, we derive similar upstream densities of the order of 0.01 cm-3, compatible with the lack of thermal X-rays from the shocked ambient medium.

  7. A New Sample of Cool Subdwarfs from SDSS: Properties and Kinematics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Savcheva, Antonia; West, Andrew A.; Bochanski, John J.

    2014-06-01

    We present a new sample of M subdwarfs compiled from the 7th data re- lease of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. With 3517 new subdwarfs, this new sample significantly increases the number the existing sample of low-mass subdwarfs. This catalog includes unprecedentedly large numbers of extreme and ultra sudwarfs. Here, we present the catalog and the statistical analysis we perform. Subdwarf template spectra are derived. We show color-color and reduced proper motion diagrams of the three metallicity classes, which are shown to separate from the disk dwarf population. The extreme and ultra subdwarfs are seen at larger values of reduced proper motion as expected for more dynamically heated populations. We determine 3D kinematics for all of the stars with proper motions. The color-magnitude diagrams show a clear separation of the three metallicity classes with the ultra and extreme subdwarfs being significantly closer to the main sequence than the ordinary subdwarfs. All subdwarfs lie below and to the blue of the main sequence. Based on the average (U, V, W ) velocities and their dispersions, the extreme and ultra subdwarfs likely belong to the Galactic halo, while the ordinary subdwarfs are likely part of the old Galactic (or thick) disk. An extensive activity analy- sis of subdwarfs is performed using chromospheric Hα emission and 208 active subdwarfs are found. We show that while the activity fraction of subdwarfs rises with spectral class and levels off at the latest spectral classes, consistent with the behavior of M dwarfs, the extreme and ultra subdwarfs are basically flat.

  8. A New Sample of Cool Subdwarfs from SDSS: Properties and Kinematics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Savcheva, Antonia S.; West, Andrew A.; Bochanski, John J.

    2014-10-01

    We present a new sample of M subdwarfs compiled from the seventh data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. With 3517 new subdwarfs, this new sample significantly increases the number of spectroscopically confirmed low-mass subdwarfs. This catalog also includes 905 extreme and 534 ultra sudwarfs. We present the entire catalog, including observed and derived quantities, and template spectra created from co-added subdwarf spectra. We show color-color and reduced proper motion diagrams of the three metallicity classes, which are shown to separate from the disk dwarf population. The extreme and ultra subdwarfs are seen at larger values of reduced proper motion, as expected for more dynamically heated populations. We determine 3D kinematics for all of the stars with proper motions. The color-magnitude diagrams show a clear separation of the three metallicity classes with the ultra and extreme subdwarfs being significantly closer to the main sequence than the ordinary subdwarfs. All subdwarfs lie below (fainter) and to the left (bluer) of the main sequence. Based on the average (U, V, W) velocities and their dispersions, the extreme and ultra subdwarfs likely belong to the Galactic halo, while the ordinary subdwarfs are likely part of the old Galactic (or thick) disk. An extensive activity analysis of subdwarfs is performed using Hα emission, and 208 active subdwarfs are found. We show that while the activity fraction of subdwarfs rises with spectral class and levels off at the latest spectral classes, consistent with the behavior of M dwarfs, the extreme and ultra subdwarfs are basically flat.

  9. WIYN open cluster study. LIX. Radial velocity membership of the evolved population of the old open cluster NGC 6791

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tofflemire, Benjamin M.; Gosnell, Natalie M.; Mathieu, Robert D.

    2014-10-01

    The open cluster NGC 6791 has been the focus of much recent study due to its intriguing combination of old age and high metallicity (∼8 Gyr, [Fe/H] = +0.30), as well as its location within the Kepler field. As part of the WIYN Open Cluster Study, we present precise (σ = 0.38 km s{sup –1}) radial velocities for proper motion candidate members of NGC 6791 from Platais et al. Our survey, extending down to g' ∼ 16.8, is comprised of the evolved cluster population, including blue stragglers, giants, and horizontal branch stars. Of the 280 proper-motion-selected stars above our magnitudemore » limit, 93% have at least one radial velocity measurement and 79% have three measurements over the course of at least 200 days, sufficient for secure radial-velocity-determined membership of non-velocity-variable stars. The Platais et al. proper motion catalog includes 12 anomalous horizontal branch candidates blueward of the red clump, of which we find only 4 to be cluster members. Three fall slightly blueward of the red clump and the fourth is consistent with being a blue straggler. The cleaned color-magnitude diagram shows a richly populated red giant branch and a blue straggler population. Half of the blue stragglers are in binaries. From our radial velocity measurement distribution, we find the cluster's radial velocity dispersion to be σ {sub c} = 0.62 ± 0.10 km s{sup –1}. This corresponds to a dynamical mass of ∼4600 M {sub ☉}.« less

  10. The TW Hydrae association: trigonometric parallaxes and kinematic analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ducourant, C.; Teixeira, R.; Galli, P. A. B.; Le Campion, J. F.; Krone-Martins, A.; Zuckerman, B.; Chauvin, G.; Song, I.

    2014-03-01

    Context. The nearby TW Hydrae association (TWA) is currently a benchmark for the study of the formation and evolution of young low-mass stars, circumstellar disks, and the imaging detection of planetary companions. For these studies, it is crucial to evaluate the distance to group members in order to access their physical properties. Membership of several stars is strongly debated and age estimates vary from one author to another with doubts about coevality. Aims: We revisit the kinematic properties of the TWA in light of new trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions to derive the dynamical age of the association and physical parameters of kinematic members. Methods: Using observations performed with the New Technology Telescope (NTT) from ESO we measured trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions for 13 stars in TWA. Results: With the convergent point method we identify a co-moving group with 31 TWA stars. We deduce kinematic distances for seven members of the moving group that lack trigonometric parallaxes. A traceback strategy is applied to the stellar space motions of a selection of 16 of the co-moving objects with accurate and reliable data yielding a dynamical age for the association of t ≃ 7.5 ± 0.7 Myr. Using our new parallaxes and photometry available in the literature we derive stellar ages and masses from theoretical evolutionary models. Conclusions: With new parallax and proper motion measurements from this work and current astrometric catalogs we provide an improved and accurate database for TWA stars to be used in kinematical analysis. We conclude that the dynamical age obtained via traceback strategy is consistent with previous age estimates for the TWA, and is also compatible with the average ages derived in the present paper from evolutionary models for pre-main-sequence stars. Based on observations performed at the European Southern Observatory, Chile (79.C-0229, 81.C-0143, 82.C-0103, 83.C-0102, 84.C-0014).

  11. DISTANCE AND KINEMATICS OF THE RED HYPERGIANT VY CMa: VERY LONG BASELINE ARRAY AND VERY LARGE ARRAY ASTROMETRY

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, B.; Reid, M. J.; Menten, K. M.

    2012-01-01

    We report astrometric results of phase-referencing very long baseline interferometry observations of 43 GHz SiO maser emission toward the red hypergiant VY Canis Majoris (VY CMa) using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). We measured a trigonometric parallax of 0.83 {+-} 0.08 mas, corresponding to a distance of 1.20{sup +0.13}{sub -0.10} kpc. Compared to previous studies, the spatial distribution of SiO masers has changed dramatically, while its total extent remains similar. The internal motions of the maser spots are up to 1.4 mas yr{sup -1}, corresponding to 8 km s{sup -1}, and show a tendency for expansion. After modeling themore » expansion of maser spots, we derived an absolute proper motion for the central star of {mu}{sub x} = -2.8 {+-} 0.2 and {mu}{sub y} = 2.6 {+-} 0.2 mas yr{sup -1} eastward and northward, respectively. Based on the maser distribution from the VLBA observations, and the relative position between the radio photosphere and the SiO maser emission at 43 GHz from the complementary Very Large Array observations, we estimate the absolute position of VY CMa at mean epoch 2006.53 to be {alpha}{sub J2000} = 07{sup h}22{sup m}58.{sup s}3259 {+-} 0.{sup s}0007, {delta}{sub J2000} = -25 Degree-Sign 46'03.''063 {+-} 0.''010. The position and proper motion of VY CMa from the VLBA observations differ significantly with values measured by the Hipparcos satellite. These discrepancies are most likely associated with inhomogeneities and dust scattering the optical light in the circumstellar envelope. The absolute proper motion measured with VLBA suggests that VY CMa may be drifting out of the giant molecular cloud to the east of it.« less

  12. Fetal lung apparent diffusion coefficient measurement using diffusion-weighted MRI at 3 Tesla: Correlation with gestational age.

    PubMed

    Afacan, Onur; Gholipour, Ali; Mulkern, Robert V; Barnewolt, Carol E; Estroff, Judy A; Connolly, Susan A; Parad, Richard B; Bairdain, Sigrid; Warfield, Simon K

    2016-12-01

    To evaluate the feasibility of using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) to assess the fetal lung apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at 3 Tesla (T). Seventy-one pregnant women (32 second trimester, 39 third trimester) were scanned with a twice-refocused Echo-planar diffusion-weighted imaging sequence with 6 different b-values in 3 orthogonal diffusion orientations at 3T. After each scan, a region-of-interest (ROI) mask was drawn to select a region in the fetal lung and an automated robust maximum likelihood estimation algorithm was used to compute the ADC parameter. The amount of motion in each scan was visually rated. When scans with unacceptable levels of motion were eliminated, the lung ADC values showed a strong association with gestational age (P < 0.01), increasing dramatically between 16 and 27 weeks and then achieving a plateau around 27 weeks. We show that to get reliable estimates of ADC values of fetal lungs, a multiple b-value acquisition, where motion is either corrected or considered, can be performed. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:1650-1655. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

  13. Stacking Up

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Naylor, Jim

    2005-01-01

    Chimneys and stacks appear to be strong and indestructible, but chimneys begin to deteriorate from the moment they are built. Early on, no signs are apparent; but deterioration accelerates in subsequent years, and major repairs are soon needed instead of minor maintenance. With proper attention, most structures can be repaired and continue to…

  14. Simplifying field-scale assessment of spatiotemporal changes of soil salinity

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Monitoring soil salinity (ECe) is important to properly plan agronomic and irrigation practices. Salinity can be readily measured through soil sampling directed by geospatial measurements of apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa). Using data from a long-term (1999-2012) monitoring study at a 32...

  15. Early Improper Motion Detection in Golf Swings Using Wearable Motion Sensors: The First Approach

    PubMed Central

    Stančin, Sara; Tomažič, Sašo

    2013-01-01

    This paper presents an analysis of a golf swing to detect improper motion in the early phase of the swing. Led by the desire to achieve a consistent shot outcome, a particular golfer would (in multiple trials) prefer to perform completely identical golf swings. In reality, some deviations from the desired motion are always present due to the comprehensive nature of the swing motion. Swing motion deviations that are not detrimental to performance are acceptable. This analysis is conducted using a golfer's leading arm kinematic data, which are obtained from a golfer wearing a motion sensor that is comprised of gyroscopes and accelerometers. Applying the principal component analysis (PCA) to the reference observations of properly performed swings, the PCA components of acceptable swing motion deviations are established. Using these components, the motion deviations in the observations of other swings are examined. Any unacceptable deviations that are detected indicate an improper swing motion. Arbitrarily long observations of an individual player's swing sequences can be included in the analysis. The results obtained for the considered example show an improper swing motion in early phase of the swing, i.e., the first part of the backswing. An early detection method for improper swing motions that is conducted on an individual basis provides assistance for performance improvement. PMID:23752563

  16. Early improper motion detection in golf swings using wearable motion sensors: the first approach.

    PubMed

    Stančin, Sara; Tomažič, Sašo

    2013-06-10

    This paper presents an analysis of a golf swing to detect improper motion in the early phase of the swing. Led by the desire to achieve a consistent shot outcome, a particular golfer would (in multiple trials) prefer to perform completely identical golf swings. In reality, some deviations from the desired motion are always present due to the comprehensive nature of the swing motion. Swing motion deviations that are not detrimental to performance are acceptable. This analysis is conducted using a golfer's leading arm kinematic data, which are obtained from a golfer wearing a motion sensor that is comprised of gyroscopes and accelerometers. Applying the principal component analysis (PCA) to the reference observations of properly performed swings, the PCA components of acceptable swing motion deviations are established. Using these components, the motion deviations in the observations of other swings are examined. Any unacceptable deviations that are detected indicate an improper swing motion. Arbitrarily long observations of an individual player's swing sequences can be included in the analysis. The results obtained for the considered example show an improper swing motion in early phase of the swing, i.e., the first part of the backswing. An early detection method for improper swing motions that is conducted on an individual basis provides assistance for performance improvement.

  17. Perception of visual apparent motion is modulated by a gap within concurrent auditory glides, even when it is illusory

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Qingcui; Guo, Lu; Bao, Ming; Chen, Lihan

    2015-01-01

    Auditory and visual events often happen concurrently, and how they group together can have a strong effect on what is perceived. We investigated whether/how intra- or cross-modal temporal grouping influenced the perceptual decision of otherwise ambiguous visual apparent motion. To achieve this, we juxtaposed auditory gap transfer illusion with visual Ternus display. The Ternus display involves a multi-element stimulus that can induce either of two different percepts of apparent motion: ‘element motion’ (EM) or ‘group motion’ (GM). In “EM,” the endmost disk is seen as moving back and forth while the middle disk at the central position remains stationary; while in “GM,” both disks appear to move laterally as a whole. The gap transfer illusion refers to the illusory subjective transfer of a short gap (around 100 ms) from the long glide to the short continuous glide when the two glides intercede at the temporal middle point. In our experiments, observers were required to make a perceptual discrimination of Ternus motion in the presence of concurrent auditory glides (with or without a gap inside). Results showed that a gap within a short glide imposed a remarkable effect on separating visual events, and led to a dominant perception of GM as well. The auditory configuration with gap transfer illusion triggered the same auditory capture effect. Further investigations showed that visual interval which coincided with the gap interval (50–230 ms) in the long glide was perceived to be shorter than that within both the short glide and the ‘gap-transfer’ auditory configurations in the same physical intervals (gaps). The results indicated that auditory temporal perceptual grouping takes priority over the cross-modal interaction in determining the final readout of the visual perception, and the mechanism of selective attention on auditory events also plays a role. PMID:26042055

  18. Distinct Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns for Apparent Motion Processing in School-Aged Children.

    PubMed

    Campbell, Julia; Sharma, Anu

    2016-01-01

    Measures of visual cortical development in children demonstrate high variability and inconsistency throughout the literature. This is partly due to the specificity of the visual system in processing certain features. It may then be advantageous to activate multiple cortical pathways in order to observe maturation of coinciding networks. Visual stimuli eliciting the percept of apparent motion and shape change is designed to simultaneously activate both dorsal and ventral visual streams. However, research has shown that such stimuli also elicit variable visual evoked potential (VEP) morphology in children. The aim of this study was to describe developmental changes in VEPs, including morphological patterns, and underlying visual cortical generators, elicited by apparent motion and shape change in school-aged children. Forty-one typically developing children underwent high-density EEG recordings in response to a continuously morphing, radially modulated, circle-star grating. VEPs were then compared across the age groups of 5-7, 8-10, and 11-15 years according to latency and amplitude. Current density reconstructions (CDR) were performed on VEP data in order to observe activated cortical regions. It was found that two distinct VEP morphological patterns occurred in each age group. However, there were no major developmental differences between the age groups according to each pattern. CDR further demonstrated consistent visual generators across age and pattern. These results describe two novel VEP morphological patterns in typically developing children, but with similar underlying cortical sources. The importance of these morphological patterns is discussed in terms of future studies and the investigation of a relationship to visual cognitive performance.

  19. Distinct Visual Evoked Potential Morphological Patterns for Apparent Motion Processing in School-Aged Children

    PubMed Central

    Campbell, Julia; Sharma, Anu

    2016-01-01

    Measures of visual cortical development in children demonstrate high variability and inconsistency throughout the literature. This is partly due to the specificity of the visual system in processing certain features. It may then be advantageous to activate multiple cortical pathways in order to observe maturation of coinciding networks. Visual stimuli eliciting the percept of apparent motion and shape change is designed to simultaneously activate both dorsal and ventral visual streams. However, research has shown that such stimuli also elicit variable visual evoked potential (VEP) morphology in children. The aim of this study was to describe developmental changes in VEPs, including morphological patterns, and underlying visual cortical generators, elicited by apparent motion and shape change in school-aged children. Forty-one typically developing children underwent high-density EEG recordings in response to a continuously morphing, radially modulated, circle-star grating. VEPs were then compared across the age groups of 5–7, 8–10, and 11–15 years according to latency and amplitude. Current density reconstructions (CDR) were performed on VEP data in order to observe activated cortical regions. It was found that two distinct VEP morphological patterns occurred in each age group. However, there were no major developmental differences between the age groups according to each pattern. CDR further demonstrated consistent visual generators across age and pattern. These results describe two novel VEP morphological patterns in typically developing children, but with similar underlying cortical sources. The importance of these morphological patterns is discussed in terms of future studies and the investigation of a relationship to visual cognitive performance. PMID:27445738

  20. Proper Brushing

    MedlinePlus

    ... bristles along the gumline at a 45-degree angle. Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline. Gently ... A rolling motion is when the brush makes contact with the gumline and ... a 45-degree angle with bristles contacting the tooth surface and gumline. ...

  1. Interface Prostheses With Classifier-Feedback-Based User Training.

    PubMed

    Fang, Yinfeng; Zhou, Dalin; Li, Kairu; Liu, Honghai

    2017-11-01

    It is evident that user training significantly affects performance of pattern-recognition-based myoelectric prosthetic device control. Despite plausible classification accuracy on offline datasets, online accuracy usually suffers from the changes in physiological conditions and electrode displacement. The user ability in generating consistent electromyographic (EMG) patterns can be enhanced via proper user training strategies in order to improve online performance. This study proposes a clustering-feedback strategy that provides real-time feedback to users by means of a visualized online EMG signal input as well as the centroids of the training samples, whose dimensionality is reduced to minimal number by dimension reduction. Clustering feedback provides a criterion that guides users to adjust motion gestures and muscle contraction forces intentionally. The experiment results have demonstrated that hand motion recognition accuracy increases steadily along the progress of the clustering-feedback-based user training, while conventional classifier-feedback methods, i.e., label feedback, hardly achieve any improvement. The result concludes that the use of proper classifier feedback can accelerate the process of user training, and implies prosperous future for the amputees with limited or no experience in pattern-recognition-based prosthetic device manipulation.It is evident that user training significantly affects performance of pattern-recognition-based myoelectric prosthetic device control. Despite plausible classification accuracy on offline datasets, online accuracy usually suffers from the changes in physiological conditions and electrode displacement. The user ability in generating consistent electromyographic (EMG) patterns can be enhanced via proper user training strategies in order to improve online performance. This study proposes a clustering-feedback strategy that provides real-time feedback to users by means of a visualized online EMG signal input as well as the centroids of the training samples, whose dimensionality is reduced to minimal number by dimension reduction. Clustering feedback provides a criterion that guides users to adjust motion gestures and muscle contraction forces intentionally. The experiment results have demonstrated that hand motion recognition accuracy increases steadily along the progress of the clustering-feedback-based user training, while conventional classifier-feedback methods, i.e., label feedback, hardly achieve any improvement. The result concludes that the use of proper classifier feedback can accelerate the process of user training, and implies prosperous future for the amputees with limited or no experience in pattern-recognition-based prosthetic device manipulation.

  2. Predictions of stellar occultations by TNOs/Centaurs using Gaia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Desmars, Josselin; Camargo, Julio; Berard, Diane; Sicardy, Bruno; Leiva, Rodrigo; Vieira-Martins, Roberto; Braga-Ribas, Felipe; Assafin, Marcelo; Rossi, Gustavo; Chariklo occultations Team, Rio Group, Lucky Star Occultation Team, Granada Occultation Team

    2017-10-01

    Stellar occultations are the unique technique from the ground to access physical parameters of the distant solar system objects, such as the measure of the size and the shape at kilometric level, the detection of tenuous atmospheres (few nanobars), and the investigation of close vicinity (satellites, rings, jets).Predictions of stellar occultations require accurate positions of the star and the object.The Gaia DR1 catalog now allows to get stellar position to the milliarcsecond (mas) level. The main uncertainty in the prediction remains in the position of the object (tens to hundreds of mas).Now, we take advantage of the NIMA method for the orbit determination that uses the most recent observations reduced by the Gaia DR1 catalog and the astrometric positions derived from previous positive occultations.Up to now, we have detected nearly 50 positive occultations for about 20 objects that provide astrometric positions of the object at the time of the occultation. The uncertainty of these positions only depends on the uncertainty on the position of the occulted stars, which is a few mas with the Gaia DR1 catalog. The main limitation is now on the proper motion of the star which is only given for bright stars in the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution. This limitation will be solved with the publicationof the Gaia DR2 expected on April 2018 giving proper motions and parallaxes for the Gaia stars. Until this date, we use hybrid stellar catalogs (UCAC5, HSOY) that provide proper motions derived from Gaia DR1 and another stellar catalog.Recently, the Gaia team presented a release of three preliminary Gaia DR2 stellar positions involved in the occultations by Chariklo (22 June and 23 July 2017) and by Triton (5 October 2017).Taking the case of Chariklo as an illustration, we will present a comparison between the proper motions of DR2 and the other catalogs and we will show how the Gaia DR2 will lead to a mas level precision in the orbit and in the prediction of stellar occultations.**Part of the research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under theEuropean Community’s H2020 (2014-2020/ ERC Grant Agreement n 669416 ”LUCKY STAR”).

  3. Gaia TGAS search for Large Magellanic Cloud runaway supergiant stars. Candidate hypervelocity star discovery and the nature of R 71

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lennon, Daniel J.; van der Marel, Roeland P.; Ramos Lerate, Mercedes; O'Mullane, William; Sahlmann, Johannes

    2017-07-01

    Aims: Our research aims to search for runaway stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) among the bright Hipparcos supergiant stars included in the Gaia DR1 Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution (TGAS) catalogue. Methods: We compute the space velocities of the visually brightest stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud that are included in the TGAS proper motion catalogue. This sample of 31 stars contains a luminous blue variable (LBV), emission line stars, blue and yellow supergiants, and an SgB[e] star. We combine these results with published radial velocities to derive their space velocities, and by comparing with predictions from stellar dynamical models we obtain each star's (peculiar) velocity relative to its local stellar environment. Results: Two of the 31 stars have unusually high proper motions. Of the remaining 29 stars we find that most objects in this sample have velocities that are inconsistent with a runaway nature, being in very good agreement with model predictions of a circularly rotating disk model. Indeed the excellent fit to the model implies that the TGAS uncertainty estimates are likely overestimated. The fastest outliers in this subsample contain the LBV R 71 and a few other well known emission line objects though in no case do we derive velocities consistent with fast ( 100 km s-1) runaways. On the contrary our results imply that R 71 in particular has a moderate deviation from the local stellar velocity field (40 km s-1) lending support to the proposition that this object cannot have evolved as a normal single star since it lies too far from massive star forming complexes to have arrived at its current position during its lifetime. Our findings therefore strengthen the case for this LBV being the result of binary evolution. Of the two stars with unusually high proper motions we find that one, the isolated B1.5 Ia+ supergiant Sk-67 2 (HIP 22237), is a candidate hypervelocity star, the TGAS proper motion implying a very large peculiar transverse velocity ( 360 km s-1) directed radially away from the LMC centre. If confirmed, for example by Gaia Data Release 2, it would imply that this massive supergiant, on the periphery of the LMC, is leaving the galaxy where it will explode as a supernova.

  4. Evidence of small-scale magnetic concentrations dragged by vortex motion of solar photospheric plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Balmaceda, L.; Vargas Domínguez, S.; Palacios, J.; Cabello, I.; Domingo, V.

    2010-04-01

    Vortex-type motions have been measured by tracking bright points in high-resolution observations of the solar photosphere. These small-scale motions are thought to be determinant in the evolution of magnetic footpoints and their interaction with plasma and therefore likely to play a role in heating the upper solar atmosphere by twisting magnetic flux tubes. We report the observation of magnetic concentrations being dragged towards the center of a convective vortex motion in the solar photosphere from high-resolution ground-based and space-borne data. We describe this event by analyzing a series of images at different solar atmospheric layers. By computing horizontal proper motions, we detect a vortex whose center appears to be the draining point for the magnetic concentrations detected in magnetograms and well-correlated with the locations of bright points seen in G-band and CN images.

  5. Oil Motion Control by an Extra Pinning Structure in Electro-Fluidic Display.

    PubMed

    Dou, Yingying; Tang, Biao; Groenewold, Jan; Li, Fahong; Yue, Qiao; Zhou, Rui; Li, Hui; Shui, Lingling; Henzen, Alex; Zhou, Guofu

    2018-04-06

    Oil motion control is the key for the optical performance of electro-fluidic displays (EFD). In this paper, we introduced an extra pinning structure (EPS) into the EFD pixel to control the oil motion inside for the first time. The pinning structure canbe fabricated together with the pixel wall by a one-step lithography process. The effect of the relative location of the EPS in pixels on the oil motion was studied by a series of optoelectronic measurements. EPS showed good control of oil rupture position. The properly located EPS effectively guided the oil contraction direction, significantly accelerated switching on process, and suppressed oil overflow, without declining in aperture ratio. An asymmetrically designed EPS off the diagonal is recommended. This study provides a novel and facile way for oil motion control within an EFD pixel in both direction and timescale.

  6. Field O stars: formed in situ or as runaways?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gvaramadze, V. V.; Weidner, C.; Kroupa, P.; Pflamm-Altenburg, J.

    2012-08-01

    A significant fraction of massive stars in the Milky Way and other galaxies are located far from star clusters and star-forming regions. It is known that some of these stars are runaways, i.e. possess high space velocities (determined through the proper motion and/or radial velocity measurements), and therefore most likely were formed in embedded clusters and then ejected into the field because of dynamical few-body interactions or binary-supernova explosions. However, there exists a group of field O stars whose runaway status is difficult to prove via direct proper motion measurements (e.g. in the Magellanic Clouds) or whose (measured) low space velocities and/or young ages appear to be incompatible with their large separation from known star clusters. The existence of this group led some authors to believe that field O stars can form in situ. Since the question of whether or not O stars can form in isolation is of crucial importance for star formation theory, it is important to thoroughly test candidates of such stars in order to improve the theory. In this paper, we examine the runaway status of the best candidates for isolated formation of massive stars in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds by searching for bow shocks around them, by using the new reduction of the Hipparcos data, and by searching for stellar systems from which they could originate within their lifetimes. We show that most of the known O stars thought to have formed in isolation are instead very likely runaways. We show also that the field must contain a population of O stars whose low space velocities and/or young ages are in apparent contradiction to the large separation of these stars from their parent clusters and/or the ages of these clusters. These stars (the descendants of runaway massive binaries) cannot be traced back to their parent clusters and therefore can be mistakenly considered as having formed in situ. We argue also that some field O stars could be detected in optical wavelengths only because they are runaways, while their cousins residing in the deeply embedded parent clusters might still remain totally obscured. The main conclusion of our study is that there is no significant evidence whatsoever in support of the in situ proposal on the origin of massive stars.

  7. Synchronous and asynchronous whirling of the balanced rotor with an orthotropic elastic shaft

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bykov, V. G.

    2018-05-01

    The motion of a fully balanced Jeffcott rotor excited by the external torque is considered. The mechanical model of the rotor takes into account the orthotropy of visco-elastic characteristics of the shaft and the influence of viscous external and internal damping forces. The self-excited whirling motions, due to the loss of stability of proper rotation, are investigated. It is established that, for sufficiently strong orthotropy of the shaft, there are two regions of instability of rotor's basic motion. In the first region the steady-state motion of the rotor is regular synchronous whirling, and in the second one there are asynchronous self-excited vibrations. We obtained the analytic formulas for the threshold values of the torque, which limit existence regions of both whirling modes.

  8. Effects of Spatio-Temporal Aliasing on Out-the-Window Visual Systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sweet, Barbara T.; Stone, Leland S.; Liston, Dorion B.; Hebert, Tim M.

    2014-01-01

    Designers of out-the-window visual systems face a challenge when attempting to simulate the outside world as viewed from a cockpit. Many methodologies have been developed and adopted to aid in the depiction of particular scene features, or levels of static image detail. However, because aircraft move, it is necessary to also consider the quality of the motion in the simulated visual scene. When motion is introduced in the simulated visual scene, perceptual artifacts can become apparent. A particular artifact related to image motion, spatiotemporal aliasing, will be addressed. The causes of spatio-temporal aliasing will be discussed, and current knowledge regarding the impact of these artifacts on both motion perception and simulator task performance will be reviewed. Methods of reducing the impact of this artifact are also addressed

  9. Vestibular nuclei and cerebellum put visual gravitational motion in context.

    PubMed

    Miller, William L; Maffei, Vincenzo; Bosco, Gianfranco; Iosa, Marco; Zago, Myrka; Macaluso, Emiliano; Lacquaniti, Francesco

    2008-04-01

    Animal survival in the forest, and human success on the sports field, often depend on the ability to seize a target on the fly. All bodies fall at the same rate in the gravitational field, but the corresponding retinal motion varies with apparent viewing distance. How then does the brain predict time-to-collision under gravity? A perspective context from natural or pictorial settings might afford accurate predictions of gravity's effects via the recovery of an environmental reference from the scene structure. We report that embedding motion in a pictorial scene facilitates interception of gravitational acceleration over unnatural acceleration, whereas a blank scene eliminates such bias. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed blood-oxygen-level-dependent correlates of these visual context effects on gravitational motion processing in the vestibular nuclei and posterior cerebellar vermis. Our results suggest an early stage of integration of high-level visual analysis with gravity-related motion information, which may represent the substrate for perceptual constancy of ubiquitous gravitational motion.

  10. Type of featural attention differentially modulates hMT+ responses to illusory motion aftereffects.

    PubMed

    Castelo-Branco, Miguel; Kozak, Lajos R; Formisano, Elia; Teixeira, João; Xavier, João; Goebel, Rainer

    2009-11-01

    Activity in the human motion complex (hMT(+)/V5) is related to the perception of motion, be it either real surface motion or an illusion of motion such as apparent motion (AM) or motion aftereffect (MAE). It is a long-lasting debate whether illusory motion-related activations in hMT(+) represent the motion itself or attention to it. We have asked whether hMT(+) responses to MAEs are present when shifts in arousal are suppressed and attention is focused on concurrent motion versus nonmotion features. Significant enhancement of hMT(+) activity was observed during MAEs when attention was focused either on concurrent spatial angle or color features. This observation was confirmed by direct comparison of adapting (MAE inducing) versus nonadapting conditions. In contrast, this effect was diminished when subjects had to report on concomitant speed changes of superimposed AM. The same finding was observed for concomitant orthogonal real motion (RM), suggesting that selective attention to concurrent illusory or real motion was interfering with the saliency of MAE signals in hMT(+). We conclude that MAE-related changes in the global activity of hMT(+) are present provided selective attention is not focused on an interfering feature such as concurrent motion. Accordingly, there is a genuine MAE-related motion signal in hMT(+) that is neither explained by shifts in arousal nor by selective attention.

  11. Photographic Documentation of Emerald Spreadwing at TA-3, LANL

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Foy, Bernard R.

    2017-06-20

    Los Alamos National Laboratory has a considerable amount of suitable habitat for odonates, or dragonflies and damselflies. Few of these have been properly documented, however. With photographic documentation, the quality and size of odonate habitat on land owned by the Department of Energy will become more apparent to land managers.

  12. Sequences of upper and lower extremity motions in javelin throwing.

    PubMed

    Liu, Hui; Leigh, Steve; Yu, Bing

    2010-11-01

    Javelin throwing is technically demanding. Sequences of upper and lower extremity motions are important for javelin throwing performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the general sequences of upper and lower extremity motions of elite male and female javelin throwers. Three-dimensional kinematic data were collected for 32 female and 30 male elite javelin throwers during competitions. Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, lower trunk, and upper trunk joint and segment angles were reduced for the best trial of each participant. Beginning times of 6 upper extremity and 10 lower extremity joint and segment angular motions were identified. Sequences of the upper and lower extremity motions were determined through statistical analyses. Upper and lower extremity motions of the male and female elite javelin throwers followed specific sequences (P ≤ 0.050). Upper extremity motions of the male and female elite javelin throwers did not follow a proximal-to-distal sequence as suggested in the literature. Male and female elite javelin throwers apparently employed different sequences for upper and lower extremity motions (P < 0.001). Further studies are needed to determine the effects of sequences of upper and lower extremity motions on javelin throwing performance.

  13. Analytical studies of NGC 1193

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tadross, A. L.

    2005-01-01

    The photometric data of Kalu\\dot{z}ny (1988) was used in conjunction with the proper motion measurements of USNO-B1.0 catalog (Monet et al. 2003) to refine and complete the main physical properties of the faint open cluster NGC 1193.

  14. The motion of wake vortices in the terminal environment

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1974-11-12

    The phenomenon of aircraft wake vortices has been known since the beginning of powered flight. However, the potential danger of encountering wake vortices has only recently become apparent. Within a few years, a significant fraction of the civil air ...

  15. Tracking brain motion during the cardiac cycle using spiral cine-DENSE MRI

    PubMed Central

    Zhong, Xiaodong; Meyer, Craig H.; Schlesinger, David J.; Sheehan, Jason P.; Epstein, Frederick H.; Larner, James M.; Benedict, Stanley H.; Read, Paul W.; Sheng, Ke; Cai, Jing

    2009-01-01

    Cardiac-synchronized brain motion is well documented, but the accurate measurement of such motion on the pixel-by-pixel basis has been hampered by the lack of proper imaging technique. In this article, the authors present the implementation of an autotracking spiral cine displacement-encoded stimulation echo (DENSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique for the measurement of pulsatile brain motion during the cardiac cycle. Displacement-encoded dynamic MR images of three healthy volunteers were acquired throughout the cardiac cycle using the spiral cine-DENSE pulse sequence gated to the R wave of an electrocardiogram. Pixelwise Lagrangian displacement maps were computed, and 2D displacement as a function of time was determined for selected regions of interests. Different intracranial structures exhibited characteristic motion amplitude, direction, and pattern throughout the cardiac cycle. Time-resolved displacement curves revealed the pathway of pulsatile motion from brain stem to peripheral brain lobes. These preliminary results demonstrated that the spiral cine-DENSE MRI technique can be used to measure cardiac-synchronized pulsatile brain motion on the pixel-by-pixel basis with high temporal∕spatial resolution and sensitivity. PMID:19746774

  16. A massively asynchronous, parallel brain

    PubMed Central

    Zeki, Semir

    2015-01-01

    Whether the visual brain uses a parallel or a serial, hierarchical, strategy to process visual signals, the end result appears to be that different attributes of the visual scene are perceived asynchronously—with colour leading form (orientation) by 40 ms and direction of motion by about 80 ms. Whatever the neural root of this asynchrony, it creates a problem that has not been properly addressed, namely how visual attributes that are perceived asynchronously over brief time windows after stimulus onset are bound together in the longer term to give us a unified experience of the visual world, in which all attributes are apparently seen in perfect registration. In this review, I suggest that there is no central neural clock in the (visual) brain that synchronizes the activity of different processing systems. More likely, activity in each of the parallel processing-perceptual systems of the visual brain is reset independently, making of the brain a massively asynchronous organ, just like the new generation of more efficient computers promise to be. Given the asynchronous operations of the brain, it is likely that the results of activities in the different processing-perceptual systems are not bound by physiological interactions between cells in the specialized visual areas, but post-perceptually, outside the visual brain. PMID:25823871

  17. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Census of blue stars in SDSS DR8 (Scibelli+, 2014)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scibelli, S.; Newberg, H. J.; Carlin, J. L.; Yanny, B.

    2015-02-01

    We present a census of the 12060 spectra of blue objects ((g-r)0<-0.25) in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 8 (DR8). As part of the data release, all of the spectra were cross-correlated with 48 template spectra of stars, galaxies, and QSOs to determine the best match. We compared the blue spectra by eye to the templates assigned in SDSS DR8. 10856 of the objects matched their assigned template, 170 could not be classified due to low signal-to-noise ratio, and 1034 were given new classifications. We identify 7458 DA white dwarfs, 1145 DB white dwarfs, 273 rarer white dwarfs (including carbon, DZ, DQ, and magnetic), 294 subdwarf O stars, 648 subdwarf B stars, 679 blue horizontal branch stars, 1026 blue stragglers, 13 cataclysmic variables, 129 white dwarf-M dwarf binaries, 36 objects with spectra similar to DO white dwarfs, 179, quasi-stellar objects (QSOs), and 10 galaxies. We provide two tables of these objects, sample spectra that match the templates, figures showing all of the spectra that were grouped by eye, and diagnostic plots that show the positions, colors, apparent magnitudes, proper motions, etc., for each classification. (3 data files).

  18. Ricci time in the Lemaître-Tolman model and the block universe

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elmahalawy, Yasser; Hellaby, Charles; Ellis, George F. R.

    2015-10-01

    It is common to think of our universe according to the "block universe" concept, which says that spacetime consists of many "stacked" three-surfaces, labelled by some kind of proper time, . Standard ideas do not distinguish past and future, but Ellis' "evolving block universe" tries to make a fundamental distinction. One proposal for this proper time is the proper time measured along the timelike Ricci eigenlines, starting from the big bang. This work investigates the shape of the "Ricci time" surfaces relative to the the null surfaces. We use the Lemaître-Tolman metric as our inhomogeneous spacetime model, and we find the necessary and sufficient conditions for these constant surfaces, , to be spacelike or timelike. Furthermore, we look at the effect of strong gravity domains by determining the location of timelike S regions relative to apparent horizons. We find that constant Ricci time surfaces are always spacelike near the big bang, while at late times (near the crunch or the extreme far future), they are only timelike under special circumstances. At intermediate times, timelike S regions are common unless the variation of the bang time is restricted. The regions where these surfaces become timelike are often adjacent to apparent horizons, but always outside them, and in particular timelike S regions do not occur inside the horizons of black-hole-like models.

  19. Asteroid families in the Cybele and Hungaria groups

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vinogradova, T.; Shor, V.

    2014-07-01

    Asteroid families are fragments of some disrupted parent bodies. Planetary perturbations force the primarily close orbits to evolve. One of the main features of the orbit evolution is the long-period variation of the osculating elements, such as the inclination and eccentricity. Proper elements are computed by elimination of short- and long-period perturbations, and, practically, they do not change with time. Therefore, proper elements are important for family-identification procedures. The techniques of proper-element computation have improved over time. More and more accurate dynamical theories are developed. Contrastingly, in this work, an empirical method is proposed for proper-element calculations. The long-term variations of osculating elements manifest themselves very clearly in the distributions of pairs: inclination and longitude of ascending node; eccentricity and longitude of perihelion in the corresponding planes. Both of these dependencies have a nearly sinusoidal form for most asteroid orbits with regular motion of node and perihelion. If these angular parameters librate, then the sinusoids transform to some closed curve. Hence, it is possible to obtain forced elements, as parameters of curves specified above. The proper elements can be calculated by an elimination of the forced ones. The method allows to obtain the proper elements in any region, if there is a sufficient number of asteroids. This fact and the simplicity of the calculations are advantages of the empirical method. The derived proper elements include the short-period perturbations, but their accuracy is sufficient to search for asteroid families. The special techniques have been developed for the identification of the families, but over a long time large discrepancies took place between the lists of families derived by different authors. As late as 1980, a list of 30 reliable families was formed. And now the list by D. Nesvorny includes about 80 robust families. To date, only two families have been found in the most outer part of the main asteroid belt or the Cybele group: Sylvia and Ulla. And the Hungaria group in the most inner part of the belt has always been considered as one family. In this work, the proper elements were calculated by the empirical method for all multi-opposition asteroids in these two zones. As the source of the initial osculating elements, the MPC catalogue (version Feb. 2014) was used. Due to the large set of proper elements used in our work, the families are apparent more clearly. An approach similar to the hierarchical clustering method (HCM) was used for the identification of the families. As a result, five additional families have been found in the Cybele region, associated with (121) Hermione, (643) Scheherezade, (1028) Lydina, (3141) Buchar, and (522) Helga. The small Helga family, including 15 members, is the family in the main belt (3.6--3.7 au) most distant from the Sun. Due to the isolation of this family, its identification is very reliable. As to the Hungaria region, two low-density families have been found additionally: (1453) Fennia and (3854) George. They have inclinations slightly greater than that of the Hungaria family (from 24 to 26 degrees). In contradiction to the predominant C-type of the Hungaria family asteroids, the taxonomy of these families is represented mainly by the S and L types. Most likely, these families are two parts of a single ancient family.

  20. Elimination of artificial grid distortion and hourglass-type motions by means of Lagrangian subzonal masses and pressures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Caramana, E.J.; Shashkov, M.J.

    1997-12-31

    The bane of Lagrangian hydrodynamics calculations is premature breakdown of the grid topology that results in severe degradation of accuracy and run termination often long before the assumption of Lagrangian zonal mass ceased to be valid. At short spatial grid scales this is usually referred to by the terms hourglass mode or keystone motion associated in particular with underconstrained grids such as quadrilaterals and hexahedrons in two and three dimensions, respectively. At longer spatial scales relative to the grid spacing there is what is referred to ubiquitously as spurious vorticity, or the long-thin zone problem. In both cases the resultmore » is anomalous grid distortion and tangling that has nothing to do with the actual solution, as would be the case for turbulent flow. In this work the authors show how such motions can be eliminated by the proper use of subzonal Lagrangian masses, and associated densities and pressures. These subzonal masses arise in a natural way from the fact that they require the mass associated with the nodal grid point to be constant in time. This is addition to the usual assumption of constant, Lagrangian zonal mass in staggered grid hydrodynamics scheme. The authors show that with proper discretization of subzonal forces resulting from subzonal pressures, hourglass motion and spurious vorticity can be eliminated for a very large range of problems. Finally the authors are presenting results of calculations of many test problems.« less

  1. Image-guided positioning and tracking.

    PubMed

    Ruan, Dan; Kupelian, Patrick; Low, Daniel A

    2011-01-01

    Radiation therapy aims at maximizing tumor control while minimizing normal tissue complication. The introduction of stereotactic treatment explores the volume effect and achieves dose escalation to tumor target with small margins. The use of ablative irradiation dose and sharp dose gradients requires accurate tumor definition and alignment between patient and treatment geometry. Patient geometry variation during treatment may significantly compromise the conformality of delivered dose and must be managed properly. Setup error and interfraction/intrafraction motion are incorporated in the target definition process by expanding the clinical target volume to planning target volume, whereas the alignment between patient and treatment geometry is obtained with an adaptive control process, by taking immediate actions in response to closely monitored patient geometry. This article focuses on the monitoring and adaptive response aspect of the problem. The term "image" in "image guidance" will be used in a most general sense, to be inclusive of some important point-based monitoring systems that can be considered as degenerate cases of imaging. Image-guided motion adaptive control, as a comprehensive system, involves a hierarchy of decisions, each of which balances simplicity versus flexibility and accuracy versus robustness. Patient specifics and machine specifics at the treatment facility also need to be incorporated into the decision-making process. Identifying operation bottlenecks from a system perspective and making informed compromises are crucial in the proper selection of image-guidance modality, the motion management mechanism, and the respective operation modes. Not intended as an exhaustive exposition, this article focuses on discussing the major issues and development principles for image-guided motion management systems. We hope these information and methodologies will facilitate conscientious practitioners to adopt image-guided motion management systems accounting for patient and institute specifics and to embrace advances in knowledge and new technologies subsequent to the publication of this article.

  2. VizieR Online Data Catalog: Vyssotsky's Catalogues 1950.0 (Vyssotsky+ 1943-58)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vyssotsky, A. N.

    1997-11-01

    This catalog includes the results of a complete survey of the McCormick objective prism plates for M dwarf stars. catalog.dat includes identifications, magnitudes, proper motions in RA and Dec, spectral types and parallaxes. (1 data file).

  3. Learning characteristics of a space-time neural network as a tether skiprope observer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lea, Robert N.; Villarreal, James A.; Jani, Yashvant; Copeland, Charles

    1993-01-01

    The Software Technology Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center is testing a Space Time Neural Network (STNN) for observing tether oscillations present during retrieval of a tethered satellite. Proper identification of tether oscillations, known as 'skiprope' motion, is vital to safe retrieval of the tethered satellite. Our studies indicate that STNN has certain learning characteristics that must be understood properly to utilize this type of neural network for the tethered satellite problem. We present our findings on the learning characteristics including a learning rate versus momentum performance table.

  4. Learning characteristics of a space-time neural network as a tether skiprope observer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lea, Robert N.; Villarreal, James A.; Jani, Yashvant; Copeland, Charles

    1992-01-01

    The Software Technology Laboratory at JSC is testing a Space Time Neural Network (STNN) for observing tether oscillations present during retrieval of a tethered satellite. Proper identification of tether oscillations, known as 'skiprope' motion, is vital to safe retrieval of the tethered satellite. Our studies indicate that STNN has certain learning characteristics that must be understood properly to utilize this type of neural network for the tethered satellite problem. We present our findings on the learning characteristics including a learning rate versus momentum performance table.

  5. Helicopter Flight Simulation Motion Platform Requirements

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schroeder, Jeffery Allyn

    1999-01-01

    To determine motion fidelity requirements, a series of piloted simulations was performed. Several key results were found. First, lateral and vertical translational platform cues had significant effects on fidelity. Their presence improved performance and reduced pilot workload. Second, yaw and roll rotational platform cues were not as important as the translational platform cues. In particular, the yaw rotational motion platform cue did not appear at all useful in improving performance or reducing workload. Third, when the lateral translational platform cue was combined with visual yaw rotational cues, pilots believed the platform was rotating when it was not. Thus, simulator systems can be made more efficient by proper combination of platform and visual cues. Fourth, motion fidelity specifications were revised that now provide simulator users with a better prediction of motion fidelity based upon the frequency responses of their motion control laws. Fifth, vertical platform motion affected pilot estimates of steady-state altitude during altitude repositioning. Finally, the combined results led to a general method for configuring helicopter motion systems and for developing simulator tasks that more likely represent actual flight. The overall results can serve as a guide to future simulator designers and to today's operators.

  6. A Route to Chaotic Behavior of Single Neuron Exposed to External Electromagnetic Radiation.

    PubMed

    Feng, Peihua; Wu, Ying; Zhang, Jiazhong

    2017-01-01

    Non-linear behaviors of a single neuron described by Fitzhugh-Nagumo (FHN) neuron model, with external electromagnetic radiation considered, is investigated. It is discovered that with external electromagnetic radiation in form of a cosine function, the mode selection of membrane potential occurs among periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic motions as increasing the frequency of external transmembrane current, which is selected as a sinusoidal function. When the frequency is small or large enough, periodic, and quasi-periodic motions are captured alternatively. Otherwise, when frequency is in interval 0.778 < ω < 2.208, chaotic motion characterizes the main behavior type. The mechanism of mode transition from quasi-periodic to chaotic motion is also observed when varying the amplitude of external electromagnetic radiation. The frequency apparently plays a more important role in determining the system behavior.

  7. A Route to Chaotic Behavior of Single Neuron Exposed to External Electromagnetic Radiation

    PubMed Central

    Feng, Peihua; Wu, Ying; Zhang, Jiazhong

    2017-01-01

    Non-linear behaviors of a single neuron described by Fitzhugh-Nagumo (FHN) neuron model, with external electromagnetic radiation considered, is investigated. It is discovered that with external electromagnetic radiation in form of a cosine function, the mode selection of membrane potential occurs among periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic motions as increasing the frequency of external transmembrane current, which is selected as a sinusoidal function. When the frequency is small or large enough, periodic, and quasi-periodic motions are captured alternatively. Otherwise, when frequency is in interval 0.778 < ω < 2.208, chaotic motion characterizes the main behavior type. The mechanism of mode transition from quasi-periodic to chaotic motion is also observed when varying the amplitude of external electromagnetic radiation. The frequency apparently plays a more important role in determining the system behavior. PMID:29089882

  8. The effective intensity of Coriolis, cross-coupling stimulation is gravitoinertial force dependent - Implications for space motion sickness

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lackner, J. R.; Graybiel, A.

    1986-01-01

    The effect of gravity on the severity of the Coriolis-induced motion sickness was investigated in ten individuals subjected to high and low G-force phases of parabolic flight maneuvers using constant level Coriolis, cross-coupled angular acceleration stimulation. Using seven levels of severity in the diagnosis of motion sickness, it was found that the subjects were less susceptible at 0 G than at +2 Gz, and that the perceived intensity and provocativeness of Coriolis stimulation decreased in 0 G and increased in +2 Gz relative to the +1 Gz baseline values. The changes in the apparent intensity of Coriolis stimulation occur virtually immediately when the background gravitatioinertial force level is varied. These findings explain why the Skylab astronauts were refractory to motion sickness during Coriolis stimulation in-flight.

  9. Integration of local motion is normal in amblyopia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hess, Robert F.; Mansouri, Behzad; Dakin, Steven C.; Allen, Harriet A.

    2006-05-01

    We investigate the global integration of local motion direction signals in amblyopia, in a task where performance is equated between normal and amblyopic eyes at the single element level. We use an equivalent noise model to derive the parameters of internal noise and number of samples, both of which we show are normal in amblyopia for this task. This result is in apparent conflict with a previous study in amblyopes showing that global motion processing is defective in global coherence tasks [Vision Res. 43, 729 (2003)]. A similar discrepancy between the normalcy of signal integration [Vision Res. 44, 2955 (2004)] and anomalous global coherence form processing has also been reported [Vision Res. 45, 449 (2005)]. We suggest that these discrepancies for form and motion processing in amblyopia point to a selective problem in separating signal from noise in the typical global coherence task.

  10. The effect of perceptual load on attention-induced motion blindness: the efficiency of selective inhibition.

    PubMed

    Hay, Julia L; Milders, Maarten M; Sahraie, Arash; Niedeggen, Michael

    2006-08-01

    Recent visual marking studies have shown that the carry-over of distractor inhibition can impair the ability of singletons to capture attention if the singleton and distractors share features. The current study extends this finding to first-order motion targets and distractors, clearly separated in time by a visual cue (the letter X). Target motion discrimination was significantly impaired, a result attributed to the carry-over of distractor inhibition. Increasing the difficulty of cue detection increased the motion target impairment, as distractor inhibition is thought to increase under demanding (high load) conditions in order to maximize selection efficiency. The apparent conflict with studies reporting reduced distractor inhibition under high load conditions was resolved by distinguishing between the effects of "cognitive" and "perceptual" load. ((c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).

  11. Direct Imaging Search for Extrasolar Planets in the Pleiades

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yamamoto, Kodai; Matsuo, Taro; Shibai, Hiroshi; Itoh, Yoichi; Konishi, Mihokko; Sudo, Jun; Tanii, Ryoko; Fukagawa, Misato; Sumi, Takahiro; Kudo, Tomoyuki; hide

    2013-01-01

    We carried out an imaging survey for extrasolar planets around stars in the Pleiades (125 Myr, 135 pc) in the H and K(sub S) bands using HiCIAO combined with adaptive optics, AO188, on the Subaru telescope. We found 13 companion candidates fainter than 14.5 mag in the H band around 9 stars. Five of these 13 were confirmed to be background stars by measurement of their proper motion. One was not found in the second epoch observation, and thus was not a background or companion object. One had multi-epoch images, but the precision of its proper motion was not sufficient to conclude whether it was a background object. Four other candidates are waiting for second-epoch observations to determine their proper motion. Finally, the remaining two were confirmed to be 60 M(sub J) brown dwarf companions orbiting around HD 23514 (G0) and HII 1348 (K5), respectively, as had been reported in previous studies. In our observations, the average detection limit for a point source was 20.3 mag in the H band beyond 1.'' 5 from the central star. On the basis of this detection limit, we calculated the detection efficiency to be 90% for a planet with 6 to 12 Jovian masses and a semi-major axis of 50–1000 AU. For this reason we extrapolated the distribution of the planet mass and the semi-major axis derived from radial velocity observations, and adopted the planet evolution model Baraffe et al. (2003, A&A, 402, 701). Since there was no detection of a planet, we estimated the frequency of such planets to be less than 17.9% (2 sigma) around one star of the Pleiades cluster.

  12. The brightest pure-H ultracool white dwarf

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Catalán, S.; Tremblay, P.-E.; Pinfield, D. J.; Smith, L. C.; Zhang, Z. H.; Napiwotzki, R.; Marocco, F.; Day-Jones, A. C.; Gomes, J.; Forde, K. P.; Lucas, P. W.; Jones, H. R. A.

    2012-10-01

    We report the identification of LSR J0745+2627 in the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS) as a cool white dwarf with kinematics and age compatible with the thick-disk/halo population. LSR J0745+2627 has a high proper motion (890 mas/yr) and a high reduced proper motion value in the J band (HJ = 21.87). We show how the infrared-reduced proper motion diagram is useful for selecting a sample of cool white dwarfs with low contamination. LSR J0745+2627 is also detected in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). We have spectroscopically confirmed this object as a cool white dwarf using X-Shooter on the Very Large Telescope. A detailed analysis of its spectral energy distribution reveals that its atmosphere is compatible with a pure-H composition model with an effective temperature of 3880 ± 90 K. This object is the brightest pure-H ultracool white dwarf (Teff < 4000 K) ever identified. We have constrained the distance (24-45 pc), space velocities and age considering different surface gravities. The results obtained suggest that LSR J0745+2627 belongs to the thick-disk/halo population and is also one of the closest ultracool white dwarfs. Based on observations made with ESO telescopes at the Paranal Observatory under programme ID 088.C-0048(B).FITS version of the reduced spectrum is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/546/L3

  13. The Orion Nebula Cluster as a Paradigm of Star Formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Robberto, Massimo

    2014-10-01

    We propose a 52-orbit Treasury Program to investigate two fundamental questions of star formation: a) the low-mass tail of the IMF, down to a few Jupiter masses; b) the dynamical evolution of clusters, as revealed by stellar proper motions. We target the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC) using WFC3 and ACS in coordinated parallel mode to perform a synoptic survey in the 1.345micron H2O feature and Ic broad-band. Our main objectives are: 1) to discover and classify ~500 brown dwarfs and planetary-mass objects in the field, extending the IMF down to lowest masses formed by gravitational collapse. Using the latest generation of high contrast image processing we will also search for faint companions, reaching down to sub-arcsecond separations and 1E-4 flux ratios. 2) to derive high precision (~0.2km/s) relative proper motions of low-mass stars and substellar objects (about 1000 sources total), leveraging on first epoch data obtained by our previous HST Treasury Program about 10 years ago. These data will unveil the cluster dynamics: velocity dispersion vs. mass, substructures, and the fraction of escaping sources. Only HST can access the IR H2O absorption feature sensitive to the effective temperature of substellar objects, while providing the exceptionally stable PSF needed for the detection of faint companions, and the identical ACS platform for our second epoch proper-motion survey. This program will provide the definitive HST legacy dataset on the ONC. Our High-Level Science Products will be mined by the community, both statistically to constrain competing theories of star formation, and to study in depth the multitude of exotic sources harboured by the cluster.

  14. A Pan-STARRS1 Proper-Motion Survey for Young Brown Dwarfs in the Nearest Star-Forming Regions and a Reddening-Free Classification Method for Ultracool Dwarfs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Zhoujian; Liu, Michael C.; Best, William M. J.; Magnier, Eugene; Aller, Kimberly

    2018-01-01

    Young brown dwarfs are of prime importance to investigate the universality of the initial mass function (IMF). Based on photometry and proper motions from the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) 3π survey, we are conducting the widest and deepest brown dwarf survey in the nearby star-forming regions, Taurus–Auriga (Taurus) and Upper Scorpius (USco). Our work is the first to measure proper motions, a robust proxy of membership, for brown dwarf candidates in Taurus and USco over such a large area and long time baseline (≈ 15 year) with such high precision (≈ 4 mas yr-1). Since extinction complicates spectral classification, we have developed a new approach to quantitatively determine reddening-free spectral types, extinctions, and gravity classifications for mid-M to late-L ultracool dwarfs (≈ 100–5 MJup), using low-resolution near-infrared spectra. So far, our IRTF/SpeX spectroscopic follow-up has increased the substellar and planetary-mass census of Taurus by ≈ 50% and almost doubled the substellar census of USco, constituting the largest single increases of brown dwarfs and free-floating planets found in both regions to date. Most notably, our new discoveries reveal an older (> 10 Myr) low-mass population in Taurus, in accord with recent studies of the higher-mass stellar members. In addition, the mass function appears to differ between the younger and older Taurus populations, possibly due to incompleteness of the older stellar members or different star formation processes. Upon completion, our survey will establish the most complete substellar and planetary-mass census in both Taurus and USco associations, make a significant addition to the low-mass IMF in both regions, and deliver more comprehensive pictures of star formation histories.

  15. The Star Blended with the MOA-2008-BLG-310 Source Is Not the Exoplanet Host Star

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhattacharya, A.; Bennett, D. P.; Anderson, J.; Bond, I. A.; Gould, A.; Batista, V.; Beaulieu, J. P.; Fouqué, P.; Marquette, J. B.; Pogge, R.

    2017-08-01

    High-resolution Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image analysis of the MOA-2008-BLG-310 microlens system indicates that the excess flux at the location of the source found in the discovery paper cannot primarily be due to the lens star because it does not match the lens-source relative proper motion, {μ }{rel}, predicted by the microlens models. This excess flux is most likely to be due to an unrelated star that happens to be located in close proximity to the source star. Two epochs of HST observations indicate proper motion for this blend star that is typical of a random bulge star but is not consistent with a companion to the source or lens stars if the flux is dominated by only one star, aside from the lens. We consider models in which the excess flux is due to a combination of an unrelated star and the lens star, and this yields a 95% confidence level upper limit on the lens star brightness of {I}L> 22.44 and {V}L> 23.62. A Bayesian analysis using a standard Galactic model and these magnitude limits yields a host star mass of {M}h={0.21}-0.09+0.21 {M}⊙ and a planet mass of {m}p={23.4}-9.9+23.9 {M}\\oplus at a projected separation of {a}\\perp ={1.12}-0.17+0.16 au. This result illustrates that excess flux in a high-resolution image of a microlens-source system need not be due to the lens. It is important to check that the lens-source relative proper motion is consistent with the microlensing prediction. The high-resolution image analysis techniques developed in this paper can be used to verify the WFIRST exoplanet microlensing survey mass measurements.

  16. The Gould’s Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS). I. Trigonometric Parallax Distances and Depth of the Ophiuchus Complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ortiz-León, Gisela N.; Loinard, Laurent; Kounkel, Marina A.; Dzib, Sergio A.; Mioduszewski, Amy J.; Rodríguez, Luis F.; Torres, Rosa M.; González-Lópezlira, Rosa A.; Pech, Gerardo; Rivera, Juana L.; Hartmann, Lee; Boden, Andrew F.; Evans, Neal J., II; Briceño, Cesar; Tobin, John J.; Galli, Phillip A. B.; Gudehus, Donald

    2017-01-01

    We present the first results of the Gould’s Belt Distances Survey (GOBELINS), a project aimed at measuring the proper motion and trigonometric parallax of a large sample of young stars in nearby regions using multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio observations. Enough VLBA detections have now been obtained for 16 stellar systems in Ophiuchus to derive their parallax and proper motion. This leads to distance determinations for individual stars with an accuracy of 0.3 to a few percent. In addition, the orbits of six multiple systems were modelled by combining absolute positions with VLBA (and, in some cases, near-infrared) angular separations. Twelve stellar systems are located in the dark cloud Lynds 1688 the individual distances for this sample are highly consistent with one another and yield a mean parallax for Lynds 1688 of \\varpi =7.28+/- 0.06 mas, corresponding to a distance d=137.3+/- 1.2 pc. This represents an accuracy greater than 1%. Three systems for which astrometric elements could be measured are located in the eastern streamer (Lynds 1689) and yield an estimate of \\varpi =6.79+/- 0.16 mas, corresponding to a distance d=147.3+/- 3.4 pc. This suggests that the eastern streamer is located about 10 pc farther than the core, but this conclusion needs to be confirmed by observations of additional sources in the eastern streamer (currently being collected). From the measured proper motions, we estimate the one-dimensional velocity dispersion in Lynds 1688 to be 2.8 ± 1.8 and 3.0 ± 2.0 km s-1, in R.A. and decl., respectively; these are larger than, but still consistent within 1σ of, those found in other studies.

  17. Cygnus OB2 DANCe: A high-precision proper motion study of the Cygnus OB2 association

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wright, Nicholas J.; Bouy, Herve; Drew, Janet E.; Sarro, Luis Manuel; Bertin, Emmanuel; Cuillandre, Jean-Charles; Barrado, David

    2016-08-01

    We present a high-precision proper motion study of 873 X-ray and spectroscopically selected stars in the massive OB association Cygnus OB2 as part of the DANCe project. These were calculated from images spanning a 15 yr baseline and have typical precisions <1 mas yr-1. We calculate the velocity dispersion in the two axes to be σ _α (c) = 13.0^{+0.8}_{-0.7} and σ _δ (c) = 9.1^{+0.5}_{-0.5} km s-1, using a two-component, two-dimensional model that takes into account the uncertainties on the measurements. This gives a three-dimensional velocity dispersion of σ3D = 17.8 ± 0.6 km s-1 implying a virial mass significantly larger than the observed stellar mass, confirming that the association is gravitationally unbound. The association appears to be dynamically unevolved, as evidenced by considerable kinematic substructure, non-isotropic velocity dispersions and a lack of energy equipartition. The proper motions show no evidence for a global expansion pattern, with approximately the same amount of kinetic energy in expansion as there is in contraction, which argues against the association being an expanded star cluster disrupted by process such as residual gas expulsion or tidal heating. The kinematic substructures, which appear to be close to virial equilibrium and have typical masses of 40-400 M⊙, also do not appear to have been affected by the expulsion of the residual gas. We conclude that Cyg OB2 was most likely born highly substructured and globally unbound, with the individual subgroups born in (or close to) virial equilibrium, and that the OB association has not experienced significant dynamical evolution since then.

  18. Predicting the hypervelocity star population in Gaia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marchetti, T.; Contigiani, O.; Rossi, E. M.; Albert, J. G.; Brown, A. G. A.; Sesana, A.

    2018-06-01

    Hypervelocity stars (HVSs) are amongst the fastest objects in our Milky Way. These stars are predicted to come from the Galactic centre (GC) and travel along unbound orbits across the Galaxy. In the coming years, the ESA satellite Gaia will provide the most complete and accurate catalogue of the Milky Way, with full astrometric parameters for more than 1 billion stars. In this paper, we present the expected sample size and properties (mass, magnitude, spatial, velocity distributions) of HVSs in the Gaia stellar catalogue. We build three Gaia mock catalogues of HVSs anchored to current observations, exploring different ejection mechanisms and GC stellar population properties. In all cases, we predict hundreds to thousands of HVSs with precise proper motion measurements within a few tens of kpc from us. For stars with a relative error in total proper motion below 10 {per cent}, the mass range extends to ˜10 M⊙ but peaks at ˜1 M⊙. The majority of Gaia HVSs will therefore probe a different mass and distance range compared to the current non-Gaia sample. In addition, a subset of a few hundreds to a few thousands of HVSs with M ˜ 3 M⊙ will be bright enough to have a precise measurement of the three-dimensional velocity from Gaia alone. Finally, we show that Gaia will provide more precise proper motion measurements for the current sample of HVS candidates. This will help identifying their birthplace narrowing down their ejection location, and confirming or rejecting their nature as HVSs. Overall, our forecasts are extremely encouraging in terms of quantity and quality of HVS data that can be exploited to constrain both the Milky Way potential and the GC properties.

  19. The brown dwarf kinematics project

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Faherty, Jackie K.

    2010-10-01

    Brown dwarfs are a recent addition to the plethora of objects studied in Astronomy. With theoretical masses between 13 and 75 MJupiter , they lack sustained stable Hydrogen burning so they never join the stellar main sequence. They have physical properties similar to both planets and low-mass stars so studies of their population inform on both. The distances and kinematics of brown dwarfs provide key statistical constraints on their ages, moving group membership, absolute brightnesses, evolutionary trends, and multiplicity. Yet, until my thesis, fundamental measurements of parallax and proper motion were made for only a relatively small fraction of the known population. To address this deficiency, I initiated the Brown Dwarf Kinematics (BDKP). Over the past four years I have re-imaged the majority of spectroscopically confirmed field brown dwarfs (or ultracool dwarfs---UCDs) and created the largest proper motion catalog for ultracool dwarfs to date. Using new astrometric information I examined population characteristics such as ages calculated from velocity dispersions and correlations between kinematics and colors. Using proper motions, I identified several new wide co-moving companions and investigated binding energy (and hence formation) limitations as well as the frequency of hierarchical companions. Concurrently over the past four years I have been conducting a parallax survey of 84 UCDs including those showing spectral signatures of youth, metal-poor brown dwarfs, and those within 20 pc of the Sun. Using absolute magnitude relations in J,H, and K, I identified overluminous binary candidates and investigated known flux-reversal binaries. Using current evolutionary models, I compared the MK vs J-K color magnitude diagram to model predictions and found that the low-surface gravity dwarfs are significantly red-ward and underluminous of predictions and a handful of late-type T dwarfs may require thicker clouds to account for their scatter.

  20. Proper motions of collimated jets from intermediate-mass protostars in the Carina Nebula

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Reiter, Megan; Kiminki, Megan M.; Smith, Nathan; Bally, John

    2017-10-01

    We present proper motion measurements of 37 jets and HH objects in the Carina Nebula measured in two epochs of H α images obtained ˜10 yr apart with Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Transverse velocities in all but one jet are faster than ≳ 25 km s-1, confirming that the jet-like H α features identified in the first epoch images trace outflowing gas. Proper motions constrain the location of the jet-driving source and provide kinematic confirmation of the intermediate-mass protostars that we identify for 20/37 jets. Jet velocities do not correlate with the estimated protostar mass and embedded driving sources do not have slower jets. Instead, transverse velocities (median ˜75 km s-1) are similar to those in jets from low-mass stars. Assuming a constant velocity since launch, we compute jet dynamical ages (median ˜104 yr). If continuous emission from inner jets traces the duration of the most recent accretion bursts, then these episodes are sustained longer (median ˜700 yr) than the typical decay time of an FU Orionis outburst. These jets can carry appreciable momentum that may be injected into the surrounding environment. The resulting outflow force, dP/dt, lies between that measured in low- and high-mass sources, despite the very different observational tracers used. Smooth scaling of the outflow force argues for a common physical process underlying outflows from protostars of all masses. This latest kinematic result adds to a growing body of evidence that intermediate-mass star formation proceeds like a scaled-up version of the formation of low-mass stars.

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