Photometric large scale structure (LSS) surveys probe the largest volumes in the Universe, but are inevitably limited by systematic uncertainties. Imperfect photometric calibration leads to biases in our measurements of the density fields of LSS tracers such as galaxies and quasars, and as a result in cosmological parameter estimation. Earlier

Planetary nebulae (PNe) around [WR] central stars (WRPNe) constitute a particular photoionized nebula class, representing about 10-15% of the PNe with known progenitor. We have studied 14 of them, detecting a large number of optical recombination lines (ORLs) from different ions of O and C (O+, O++, C++, C+3). This allows us to determine the C/O

Both the broad iron (Fe) line and the frequency of the kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) can potentially provide independent measures of the inner radius of the accretion disc. We use XMM-Newton and simultaneous Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations of the LMXB 4U 1636-53 to test

Symbiotic binaries consist of a cool, evolved mass-losing giant and an accreting compact companion. As symbiotic nebulae show similar morphologies to those in planetary nebulae (so much so that it is often difficult to distinguish between the two), they are ideal laboratories for understanding the role a binary companion plays in shaping the

We present the first release of XSL, the X-Shooter Spectral Library observed at the European Southern Observatory (ESO). This release contains 237 stars spanning the wavelengths 3000-10200Å observed at a resolving power R~10000. Telluric standard stars used to correct the Earth atmospheric contamination are presented as well. (2 data files).

We report the discovery of WTS-2 b, an unusually close-in 1.02-d hot Jupiter (MP = 1.12MJ, RP = 1.30RJ) orbiting a K2V star, which has a possible gravitationally bound M-dwarf companion at 0.6 arcsec separation contributing ˜20 per cent of the total flux in the observed J-band light curve. The planet is only 1.5 times the separation from its host