From October 1999 to the present Chandra has taken nearly monthly snap-shot observations of M31. The first 3 years of this dataset in combination with deeper but less frequent XMM observations has allowed the detection of 45 X-ray transients within M31. By analogy to our Galaxy, many of these transients are likely black hole candidates. We have

We present a new calibration of the CaII triplet as metallicity indicator based in 4 globular and 11 open clusters which cover a range of metallicity - 2≤[Fe/H]≤+0.1 and age 13≤(Age/Gyr)≤0.25. We use it to derive the metallicity distribution in two fields situated at 5 and 8 degrees from the center of the LMC. We show that the mean [Fe/H] of the

MELiSSA Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative is a closed artificial ecosystem intended as a tool for the development of a bio-regenerative life support system for long-term manned missions i e planetary base For its study and implementation the MELiSSA loop has been divided in five interconnected compartments organized in three

Planetary nebulae (PNe) in the Magellanic Clouds (LMC, SMC) offer a unique opportunity to study both the population and evolution of low- and intermediate-mass stars in an environment which is free of the distance scale bias that hinders Galactic PN studies. The emission shown by PNe in the 5-40 μm range is characterized by the presence of a

In this paper we explore the dynamics of ionization bounded planetary nebulae after the termination of the fast stellar wind. When the stellar wind becomes negligible, the hot, shocked bubble depressurizes and the thermal pressure of the photo-ionized region, at the inner edge of the swept-up shell, becomes dominant. At this stage the shell tends

We present preliminary conclusions derived from the analysis of a sample of galactic PNe with [WC]-type central stars (WCPNe) observed with Spitzer/IRS. We report the detection of double-dust (C-rich and O-rich) chemistry in all stars in the sample for which a good S/N spectrum was obtained. Our observations reveal that the simultaneous presence of