Optical spectra were obtained of the optical counterpart of the high-latitude (b~=62deg) soft X-ray transient XTE J1118+480 near its quiescent state (R~=18.3) with the new 6.5 m Multiple Mirror Telescope and the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope. The spectrum exhibits broad, double-peaked emission lines of hydrogen (FWHM~=2400 km s-1) arising from

We present a study focusing on the nature of compact groups through the study of their elliptical galaxies. We determine velocity dispersions (σ) for 18 bright elliptical galaxies located in the core of Hickson compact groups and a control sample of 12 bright bona fide elliptical galaxies located in the field or very loose groups. Several tests are

We reexamine closely the solar photospheric line at 6300 Å, which is attributed to a forbidden line of neutral oxygen and is widely used in analyses of other late-type stars. We use a three-dimensional time-dependent hydrodynamical model solar atmosphere that has been tested successfully against observed granulation patterns and an array of

Stellar Proper Motions can be represented as great circles over the Celestial Sphere. This point of view creates a geometry over the sphere where the study of parallelism of the motions is possible in an easy form. Calculus of intersections between circles can detect convergence point of motions. This means parallel spatial motion. The model can be

IAUC 7662 available at Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.

We present preliminary results of multi-object spectroscopy of new mid-, and far-infrared selected galaxies detected in the European Large Area ISO Survey (ELAIS). The data have been obtained with the fibre spectrographs WYFFOS at the William Herschel Telescope (Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, ORM, Canary Islands) and Hydra at the WIYN