We report on the finding of the strongest Hα emission - pseudoequivalent width of 705 Å- known so far in a young, late type dwarf. This object, named as S Ori 71, is a substellar candidate member of the 1-8 Myr star cluster sigma Orionis. Due to its overluminous location in color-magnitude diagrams, S Ori 71 might be younger than other cluster

An overview is given over the photometric transit method for the detection of extraterrestrial planets. Discussed are: its basic principals, its derivable parameters, requirements for its implementation, and sources of confusion. Special emphasis is given space based experiments that may lead towards the detection of Earth-like planets. The

We describe results from our study of a sample of spiral galaxies of a wide range of Hubble types on the basis of near-IR imaging obtained with INGRID on the WHT. We focus on the determination of bar torques, or bar strengths, from our images, and show that this bar strength only very weakly correlates with de Vaucouleurs bar type, or with bar axis

The existence of density-bounded HII regions in spiral galaxies is supported by means of a spectral indicator based on the intensity of the [OI]λ6300 forbidden line. A grid of photoionization models providing spectral information on density-bounded nebulae is presented in order to test the validity of our indicator. The indicator is applicable to

AutoFib2, the prime focus, multi-object spectrograph of the WHT, was recently upgraded with the installation of the Small Fibre Module. This allows to reach a fainter limiting magnitude and to observe a larger number of objects than with the previous large fibres.

We report on the discovery of a free-floating methane dwarf toward the direction of the young star cluster σ Ori. Based on the object's far-red, optical, and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy, we conclude that it is a possible member of this association. We have named it S Ori J053810.1-023626 (S Ori 70 is the abridged name). If it is a