Context. The distribution of member stars in the surroundings of an open cluster (OC) can shed light on the process of its formation, evolution, and dissolution. The analysis of structural parameters of OCs as a function of their age and position in the Galaxy constrains theoretical models of cluster evolution. The Gaia catalog is very appropriate

We present novel spectropolarimetric observations of the hydrogen Hα line taken with the Zürich Imaging Polarimeter (ZIMPOL) at the Gregory Coudé Telescope of the Istituto Ricerche Solari Locarno (IRSOL). The linear polarization is clearly dominated by the scattering of anisotropic radiation and the Hanle effect, while the circular polarization is

We report on our second campaign to search for old nova shells around cataclysmic variables (CVs). Our aim was to test the theory that nova eruptions cause cycles in the mass transfer rates of CVs. These mass transfer cycles change the behaviour of CVs during their intereruption periods. We examined Hα images of 47 objects and found no new shells

We discuss the use and importance of pulsating variable stars as population tracers in Local Group galaxies. Among bright variable crossing the classical instability strip, we mostly focus on RR Lyrae stars and Anomalous Cepheids. We discuss their pulsational properties and how it is possible to use them to constrain the evolution and star

We present follow-up photometric and spectroscopic observations, and subsequent analysis of Gaia20eae. This source triggered photometric alerts during 2020 after showing a ~3 mag increase in its brightness. Its Gaia Alert light curve showed the shape of a typical eruptive young star. We carried out observations to confirm Gaia20eae as an eruptive

Solar coronal seismology is based on the remote diagnostics of physical conditions in the corona of the Sun by comparison between model predictions and observations of magnetohydrodynamic wave activity. Our lack of direct access to the physical systems of interest makes information incomplete and uncertain so our conclusions are at best