... The overall globular cluster population is divided by gap in the metallicity function at [Fe/H]=-1.0 into two discrete groups with well-defined maxima at [Fe/H]=-1.60?0.03 dex, and -0.60?0.04 dex. ... Clusters with extremely blue horizontal branches occupy a spherical volume of radius ~ 9 kpc, have high rotational velocities ( V rot =77?33 km/s), have substantial and equal negative radial and vertical metallicity gradients, and are, on average, the oldest group (the old-halo subsystem). ...

We investigate dust production and stellar mass loss in the Galactic globular cluster NGC 362. ... We detect several cluster members near the tip of the red giant branch (RGB) that exhibit infrared excesses indicative of circumstellar dust and find that dust is not present in measurable quantities in stars below the tip of the RGB. ... The two most extreme stars, variables V2 and V16, contribute up to 45% of the total cluster dust-traced mass loss. ...

... Bad Astronomy . ... Bitesize Astronomy . ... Last week's Snack talked about how black holes can affect the environment around them in such a way as to be very bright . ... It's a common misconception that black holes always have matter swirling into them. ... As this matter gets closer and closer to the black hole it piles up and a large, fairly flat disk forms. This is called the accretion disk , because matter from this disk accretes (that is, falls in) on the black hole. ... 2008 Phil Plait. ...

The central velocity dispersion represents the internal motions of the stars along a column crossing the center of a galaxy or star cluster. ... The catalogue of collected velocity dispersions may be accessed in HyperLeda. vdis is the velocity dispersion given in km/s. The velocity dispersion gives to some approximation the scale for the specific kinetic energy contained in in un-ordered motions and combined with the velocity of rotation it may give an estimate of the specific kinetic energy. ...

Stellar Clusters are very useful laboratories for empirically studying stellar evolution. ... All cluster stars are at the same distance . All cluster stars have the same physical age . ... CM diagram Young Cluster In this case we see the Main Sequence fully represented. The blue dots represent massive stars with short main sequence lifetimes. ... Thus, identifying the most massive star which is still on the main sequence is an effective means of determining the age of a stellar cluster. ...

... Primordial theory review : Dick Bond . Defects and the CMB review : Andy Albrecht . ... Gravitational wave contribution to CMB anisotropies : V.B. Lukash and E.V. Mikheeva . C_l from cosmic strings : Lloyd Knox . Some aspects of CMB anisotropies induced from topological defects : Mairi Sakellariadou . ... CMB anisotropies from scaling sources : Ruth Durrer . ... SZ observations I : Sarah Church . ... Holes in the microwave sky? ... Detecting cosmic strings in the CMB : James Robinson . ...

... Structure of Data . ... Catalog . ... In SAI OCL Catalog, we introduce our work on investigation of the Milky Way system of open star clusters. The main goal of our study is a search for new clusters using huge surveys. 168 new clusters have been already discovered by us using J,H,Ks data from 2MASS point source catalog. ... For 141 new clusters, we found their physical parameters using J,H,Ks data from 2MASS catalog and, for a number of clusters, our UBVRI CCD observational magnitudes. ...

... Meta Index / Home Page This section documents the parameters recognized by this task (if any). ... To access the pre-2.9 mode of operation, set style to `pipeline'. In this mode, the inputs must be supplied via the parameters gtitable and eventset , and the output appears as one or more extensions na