We discuss the observed pulsation properties of Type II Cepheids (TIICs) in the Galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds. We found that period (P) distributions, luminosity amplitudes, and population ratios of the three different sub-groups (BL Herculis [BLH, P < 5 days], W Virginis [WV, 5 ≤ P < 20 days], RV Tauri [RVT, P > 20 days]) are quite similar

Forthcoming large photometric surveys for cosmology require precise and accurate photometric redshift (photo-z) measurements for the success of their main science objectives. However, to date, no method has been able to produce photo-zs at the required accuracy using only the broad-band photometry that those surveys will provide. An assessment of

The ESPRESSO spectrograph is a high resolution, super stable echelle cross-dispersed fibre-fed spectrograph, installed in the ESO-VLT Combined Coudé Laboratory of the ESO-VLT in Cerro Paranal. In the framework of the Fiber-Link (FL) recovery project, which was necessary to meet the throughput requirement of the instrument, we redesigned and build

ESPRESSO is a high resolution, super stable fiber-fed echelle spectrograph, installed at the ESO-VLT Combined Coudé Laboratory of the Paranal Observatory. The main instrument subsystems are: Coudé Path, Fiber Link (FL) and Spectrograph. After installation and verification, the FL subsystem flux efficiency did not fully meet the requirements. We

HIRES is the high-resolution spectrograph of the European Extremely Large Telescope at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. It consists of three fibre-fed spectrographs providing a wavelength coverage of 0.4-1.8 µm (goal 0.35-2.4 µm) at a spectral resolution of 100,000. The fibre-feeding allows HIRES to have several, interchangeable observing

Context. Stellar bars are known to gradually funnel gas to the central parts of disk galaxies. It remains a matter of debate why the distribution of ionized gas along bars and in the circumnuclear regions varies among galaxies. Aims: Our goal is to investigate the spatial distribution of star formation (SF) within bars of nearby low-inclination