We introduce the main lines and specificities of the CoRoT Seismology Core Programme. The development and consolidation of this programme has been made in the framework of the CoRoT Seismology Working Group. With a few illustrative examples, we show how CoRoT data will help to address various problems associated with present open questions of

We present a comparison of the properties of galaxies in the most underdense regions of the Universe, where the galaxy number density is less than 10 per cent of the mean density, with galaxies from more typical regions. We have compiled a sample of galaxies in 46 large nearby voids that were identified using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR4, which

Aims.We investigate the non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (non-LTE) line formation of neutral carbon in late-type stars in order to remove some of the potential systematic errors in stellar abundance analyses employing C i features. Methods: .The statistical equilibrium code MULTI was used on a grid of plane-parallel 1D MARCS atmospheric models

A vast ground-based observational effort was launched several years ago in order to prepare the optimal selection of targets for the COROT seismology programme. The first objective of this ground-based programme was to characterize as completely as possible all potential targets of the mission, in particular to determine their effective temperature

From observations with the GMOS multislit spectrograph on the Gemini North telescope, we have obtained spectra for 39 globular cluster (GC) candidates in the Virgo giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4649 (M60), of which 38 are confirmed GCs. The clusters extend out to a radius of 260 arcsec (3.5 effective radii). We find no rotation of the GC system, with

We report on ESO VLT adaptive optics imaging of one radio-loud quasar at z ˜ 3. In spite of the large distance of the object we are able to detect its surrounding extended nebulosity the properties of which are consistent with an underlying massive galaxy of MK ˜ -27 and effective radius Re = 7 kpc. As far as we know this is the clearest detection