To investigate the origins of S0 galaxies, we present a new method of analysing their stellar kinematics from discrete tracers such as planetary nebulae. This method involves binning the data in the radial direction so as to extract the most general possible non-parametric kinematic profiles, and using a maximum-likelihood fit within each bin in

It has been known for sometime that the Milky Way is a barred disk galaxy. More recently several studies inferred from star count observations that the Galaxy must contain a separate, new, flat long bar component, twisted relative to the barred bulge. Here we use a simulation with a boxy bulge and bar to suggest that these observations can be

Context. IMaX/Sunrise has recently reported the temporal evolution of highly dynamic and strongly Doppler shifted Stokes V signals in the quiet Sun. Aims: We attempt to identify the same quiet-Sun jets in the Hinode spectropolarimeter (SP) data set. Methods: We generate combinations of linear polarization magnetograms with blue- and redshifted far

VFTS 682 is located in an active star-forming region, at a projected distance of 29 pc from the young massive cluster R136 in the Tarantula Nebula of the Large Magellanic Cloud. It was previously reported as a candidate young stellar object, and more recently spectroscopically revealed as a hydrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet (WN5h) star. Our aim is to obtain

We report the discovery that R139 in 30 Doradus is a massive spectroscopic binary system. Multi-epoch optical spectroscopy of R139 was obtained as part of the VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey, revealing a double-lined system. The two components are of similar spectral types; the primary exhibits strong C III λ4650 emission and is classified as an O6.5

The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey (VFTS) is an ESO Large Programme that has obtained multi-epoch optical spectroscopy of over 800 massive stars in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Here we introduce our scientific motivations and give an overview of the survey targets, including optical and near-infrared photometry and