• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2012

Existing but largely unused binary star model capabilities are examined. An easily implemented scheme is parameterization of starspot growth and decay that can stimulate work on outer convection zones and their dynamos. Improved precision in spot computation now enhances analysis of very precise data. An existing computational model for blended spectral line profiles is accurate for binary system effects but needs to include damping, thermal Doppler, and other intrinsic broadening effects. Binary star ephemerides had been found exclusively from eclipse timings until recently, but now come also from whole light and radial velocity curves. A logical further development will be to expand these whole curve solutions to include eclipse timings. An attenuation model for circumstellar clouds, with several absorption and scattering mechanisms, has been applied only once, perhaps because the model clouds have fixed locations. However the clouds could be made to move dynamically and be combined into moving streams and disks. An area of potential interest is polarization curve analysis, where incentive for modeling could follow from publication of observed polarization curves. Other recent advances include direct single step solutions for temperatures of both stars of an eclipsing binary and third body kinematics from combined light and velocity curves.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.105-113
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• 2019

Spectroscopic observations of barium star ${\zeta}$ Capricornus (HD204075) obtained at the 8.2 m telescope of the European Southern Observatory, with a spectral resolving power R = 80,000 and signal to noise ratio greater than 300, were used to refine the atmospheric parameters. We found new values for effective temperature ($T_{eff}=5,300{\pm}50K$), surface gravity ($log\;g=1.82{\pm}0.15$), micro-turbulent velocity ($v_{micro}=2.52{\pm}0.10km/s$), and iron abundance ($log\;N(Fe)=7.32{\pm}0.06$). Previously published abundances of chemical elements in the atmosphere of HD204075 were analyzed and no correlations of these abundances with the second ionization potentials of these elements were found. This excludes the possible influence of accretion of hydrogen and helium atoms from the interstellar or circumstellar environment to the atmosphere of this star. The accretion of nuclear processed matter from the evolved binary companion was primary cause of the abundance anomalies. The young age of HD204075 allows an estimation of the time-scale for the creation of the abundance anomalies arising from accretion of interstellar hydrogen and helium as is the case of stars with low magnetic fields; which we estimate should exceed $10^8$ years.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2012

Binary companions are often invoked to explain the axial and point symmetry seen in the majority of planetary nebulae and proto-planetary nebulae (PPNs). To explore this hypothesis, we have undertaken a long-term (20 year) study of light and velocity variations in PPNs. From the photometric study of 24 PPNs, we find that all vary in brightness, and from a subset of 12 carbon-rich PPNs of F-G spectral type we find periods of 35-155 days, with the cooler having the longer periods. The variations are seen to be due to pulsation; no photometric evidence for binarity is seen. A radial velocity study of a sub-sample of seven of the brightest of these shows that they all vary with the pulsation periods. Only one shows evidence of a longer-term variation that we tentatively identify as being due to a binary companion. We conclude that the present evidence for the binary nature of these PPNs is meager and that any undetected companions of these PPNs must be of low mass (< 0.25 $M_{\odot}$) or long period (> 30 years).

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2003

A communications satellite system placed in three-Lagrange points, $L_3$, $L_4$ and $L_5$, of the restricted three-body problem in Earth-Moon system is proposed in this paper. LEO satellite constellation has been another choice of communications system. The proposed system which is alternatives of limited geostationary orbit resources, has some weak points such as long distance from the Earth, relatively expensive launch cost, long delay time, more required power, and so on. It has good points like less efforts (fuel) for station keeping, less eclipses, etc. This system has limitations for applications to provide commercial services but it is still some attractive points.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.191-194
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• 2012

The observed distribution of a blending-corrected sample of Einstein ring crossing times, $t_E$, for microlensing events toward the galactic bulge/bar are analyzed. An inspection of the distribution of crossing times suggests that it may be bimodal, indicating that two populations of lenses could be responsible for observed microlensing events. Given the possibility that microlensing in this direction can be due to the two most common classes of stars, main-sequence and white dwarf, we analyze and show via Monte Carlo simulations that the observed bimodality of $t_E$ can be derived from their accepted mass functions, and the density distributions of both stellar populations in the galactic disk and bulge/bar, with a transverse velocity distribution that is consistent with the density distribution. Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) one sample tests shows that a white dwarf population of about 25% of all stars in the galaxy agrees well with the observed bimodality with a KS significance level greater than 97%. This is an expanded and updated version of a previous investigation (Wickramasinghe, Neusima, & Struble, in Mao 2008). A power-point version of the talk, with introductory figures, is found at: https://sites.google.com/site/rhkochconference/agenda-1/program.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.161-166
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• 2006

In this paper, we describe the RLG current stabilizer circuit for attitude control in the satellite. The RLG makes use of the Sagnac effect within a resonant of a HeNe laser. The difference between two discharge currents causes one of the gyro bias errors. The theoretical background and current stabilizer are introduced. It is verified that the circuit designed is applicable to the test of input voltage and temperature.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2002

The BVR CCD full light curves of ZZ Aur were obtained as one of the near-contact binary observing programs at the Sobaek Mt. Observatory during Feb. 2000 - Feb. 2001. From the present observations, three primary and seven secondary times of minimum light were obtained. The photometric solutions have been found using the Wilson and Divenny model.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2002

We study a role of the proto-accretion disk during the formation of the planetary system, which is motivated with recent X-ray observations. There is an observational correlation of the mass of extrasolar planets with their orbital period, which also shows the minimum orbital period. This is insufficiently accounted for by the selection effect alone. Besides, most of planetary formation theories predict the lower limit of semimajor axes of the planetary orbits around 0.01 AU. While the migration theory involving the accretion disk is the most favorable theory, it causes too fast migration and requires the braking mechanism to halt the planet~0.01 AU. The induced gap in the accretion disk due to the planet and/or the truncated disk are desperately required to stop the planet. We explore the planetary evaporation in the accretion disk as another possible scenario to explain the observational lack of massive close-in planets. We calculate the location where the planet is evaporated when the mass and the radius of the planet are given, and find that the evaporation location is approximately proportional to the mass of the planet as ${m_p}^{-1.3}$ and the radius of the planet as ${r_p}^{1.3}$. Therefore, we conclude that even the standard cool accretion disk becomes marginally hot to make the small planet evaporate at~0.01 AU. We discuss other auxiliary mechanisms which may provide the accretion disk with extra heats other than the viscous friction, which may consequently make a larger planet evaporate.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2002

General along-track acceleration was estimated in the KOMPSAT-1 orbit determination process. Several sets of the atmospheric drag and solar radiation pressure coefficients were also derived with the different spacecraft area. State vectors in the orbit determination with the different spacecraft area were compared in the time frame. The orbit prediction using the estimated coefficients was performed and compared with the orbit determination results. The orbit prediction with the different general acceleration values was also carried out for the comparison

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2012

After a visit by Peter Waddell from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK in 1991, Robert H. Koch launched a program at the University of Pennsylvania to build lightweight pneumatic membrane mirrors, initially for balloon flight observations where weight is at a premium. Mirror cells were fabricated from sizes 0.18 m to 1.77 m, and experiments conducted to characterize the mirror figure and stability. Most of the work stopped after Prof. Koch's retirement in 1996 until 2006 when the authors expressed an interest in building an array of medium-aperture portable telescopes. The program restarted in earnest at Gravic, Inc. in Malvern, PA in 2008 with Koch using his extensive observational astronomy experience to guide the fabrication of a fully operational 1.07 m membrane mirror telescope with an optical tube assembly weighing under 45 Kg. Residual wavefront aberrations remediation resulted in Koch and the authors investigating membrane tensioning techniques with different cell designs, active secondary wavefront correction, photometric algorithms for aberrated images, and the use of additional lightweight mirror substrates from the Alt-Az Initiative Group, such as foamed glass. The best result for the lightweight mirrors was a point spread function spot size of several arc seconds. A lightweight 1.6 m cast aluminum cell alt-az telescope was subsequently designed by Koch and the authors for prime focus use.