We present the first automated fitting method for the quantitative spectroscopy of O- and early B-type stars with stellar winds. The method combines the non-LTE stellar atmosphere code fastwind from Puls et al. (2005, A&A, 435, 669) with the genetic algorithm based optimization routine pikaia from Charbonneau (1995, ApJS, 101, 309), allowing for a

Resonantly damped fast kink quasi-modes are computed in fully resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) for two-dimensional equilibrium models. The equilibrium model is a straight cylindrically symmetric flux tube with a plasma density that is non-uniform both across and along the loop. The non-uniform layer across the loop is not restricted to be thin

An X-ray transient was detected in outburst on 18 October 2005 during one of our Chandra/HRC-I observations as part of the XMM-Newton/Chandra monitoring campaign of the 1.7 square degree around Sgr A* (Wijnands et al. 2005, A&A submitted, astro-ph/0508648). The source was located ~15 arcminutes away from the aim-point which did not allow a sub

Between 1999 February and 2000 April, the QUEST1 variability survey collected 69 drift scans of the same region of high Galactic latitude sky. The scans cover a strip of equatorial sky approximately 24 wide in declination, centered at DE=-1°, running from RA=10h to 15h30m. All scans were taken with the 1m Schmidt telescope at the Llano del Hato

Despite more than 20 years of study, we still possess only limited constraints on the fundamental properties of SS433. With the exception of the 13d period, orbital parameters are ill-constrained, and hence the nature of both compact object, a neutron star or black hole, or the mass donor are still unknown. However, newly acquired high resolution

We present VLT observations of the optical counterpart of th X-ray millisecond pulsar XTE J0929-314 in quiescence. We detected a very faint candidate in agreement with the position given by radio and X observation. From the observed optical flux we inferred un upper limit to the magnetic field of the system.