We present a model for determining the mass ratio in interacting binaries by directly fitting the observed spectrum with synthetic spectra. We make direct use of NEXTGEN model atmosphere intensities, which are the most comprehensive and detailed models available for cool stars. We fully take into account the varying temperature and gravity across

OSIRIS (Optical System for Imaging and low/intermediate-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy) is an instrument designed to obtain images and low resolution spectra of astronomical objects in the optical domain (from 365 through 1000nm). It will be installed on Day One in the Nasmyth focus of the 10-meter Spanish GTC Telescope, although it shall be

The aim of this course is to provide direct experience of collaboration with other European astronomy/space science students and to gain an insight into the establishment of ESA space science programmes. The first half of the course takes place in Southampton. The Southampton students work as a team to track a past ESA space science mission from

We present an investigation into a newly discovered ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) in M74, CXOU J013651.1+154547. It varies in luminosity by more than an order of magnitude (from 5 x 1038 to 1 x 1040 erg s-1) in only 30 minutes, and flares on a characteristic timescale of around 4000 s. It has neither a radio nor optical counterpart, which

The instrument LIRIS is a near IR spectrograph to be installed at the WHT telescope. Currently it is being assembled at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias. The instrument will have a Hawaii 1Kx1K array as the detector. Here we report the laboratory characterization of the scientific grade unit. We give the relevant parameters such as

The University of Florida is developing a mid-infrared camera for the 10.4-meter Gran Telescopio CANARIAS. CanariCam has four science modes and two engineering modes, which use the same 320 x 240-pixel, arsenic-doped silicon, blocked-impurity-band detector from Raytheon. Each mode can be remotely selected quickly during an observing sequence. The