We have analyzed multi-wavelength mid-infrared images of the central parsec of the Galactic Center using a two-temperature line-of-sight (LOS) radiative transfer model at each pixel of the images, giving maps of temperatures, luminosities and opacities of the hot, warm, cold (dark) dust components. The data consists of images at nine wavelengths in the mid-infrared (N-band and Q-band) from the Thermal Region Camera and Spectrograph (T-ReCS) instrument operating at the Gemini South Observatory. The results of the LOS modeling indicate that the extinction optical depth is quite large and varies substantially over the FOV.

IC5146 is one of the filamentary clouds observed in Herschel Gould Belt Survey. Here we present our polarization observations toward IC5146 taken with AIMPOL, TRIPOL and Mimir. Our results reveal that the large scale structure of magnetic field is well perpendicular to the main filament, but is likely parallel to the sub-filaments, which are structure extended out from the main filaments. We have also conducted CO observations to reveal the gas kinematics along the filaments or magnetic field; this result suggests the gas is possibly confined by magnetic field in most of the region until reaching supercritical. Based on our results, we suggests that at least four types of filaments can be found in IC5146, behaving different physical properties and consistent with different formation mechanisms. Our conclusions reveal that filaments are a combination of a variety types of objects.

At distances of ~50 kpc and ~60 kpc for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) respectively the Magellanic Clouds present us with a unique opportunity to study star formation in environments outside our own galaxy. Through Spitzer and Herschel photometry and spectroscopy, samples of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) have been selected and spectroscpically confirmed in the Magellanic Clouds. Here we present some of the key results of our SINFONI K-band observations towards massive YSOs in the Magellanic Clouds. We resolve a number of Spitzer sources into multiple, previously unresolved, components and our analysis of emission lines suggest higher accretion rates and different disc properties compared with massive YSOs in the Milky Way.

Recent Fabry-Pérot observations towards the galaxy NGC 1325 with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) led to the serendipitous discovery of an emission feature centered at 661.3 nm arising from material in the interstellar medium (ISM) of our Galaxy; this emission feature lies at the wavelength of one of the sharper and stronger diffuse bands normally seen in absorption. The flux of the feature is 4.2 ± 0.5 × 10−18 es−1 cm−2 arcsec−2. It appears that this is the first observation of emission from a diffuse band carrier in the ISM, excited in this case by the interstellar radiation field. We present the discovery spectra and describe follow-up measurements proposed for SALT.

In this study, we examine the effect of surface density of disks on chemical evolution of galaxies. We find that, higher surface brightness galaxies on average possess higher gas-phase metallicity compared to lower surface brightness galaxies with the same stellar and gas mass. The surface brightness effect is more significant for low-mass galaxies. Using an analytical model of chemical evolution involving gas outflow and accretion, we find that the surface brightness dependence can be attributed to the strength of inflowing pristine gas. Galaxies with lower surface brightness experience stronger inflow than galaxies with a higher surface brightness of a similar mass.

We have observed 3 pairs of interacting galaxies (the Antennae, Arp 236, and NGC 1614) using the Fabry-Perot interferometer GHαFaS (Galaxy Hα Fabry-Perot system) on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma. We have extracted the physical properties (sizes, Hα luminosity and velocity dispersion) of Hii regions. We have combined also these observations with ALMA archival observations of these interacting galaxies, finding that there is a set of brighter and denser star forming regions. We have been able to compare these properties with those of two SMGs at redshift ~ 2.

All 119 OH maser galaxies (110 out of them are megamasers, i.e., LOH > 10 L⊙, OHMs) published so far were compiled and were cross-identified with the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) catalog. Our aim is to investigate intrinsic middle-infrared properties of OH maser galaxies and try to find some hints on sample selections on OHM surveys through the coming Five hundred aperture spherical telescope (FAST). In addition, enormous potentials for OHM surveys by future FAST are investigated, based on its innovative designs and its expected best sensitivity among single dish telescopes.

Using the Yunnan-II evolutionary population synthesis models comprising binary stars, we find that the inclusion of binary stars can raise the derived stellar metallicity Z* and/or age t (degeneracy problem), raise the stellar mass M*, lower the gaseous metallicity Zgas and star formation rate (SFR) of galaxies. This means that a few stars form recently in galaxies, while more stars form during the entire evolution process when considering binary stars. If the degeneracy between t and Z* can be broken, its effect on the feedback process and star formation history can be determined.

In the article by Kavila & George (2016) published in Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 315 there was an error with the author's affiliations. The correct affiliation is: