The heliospheric magnetic field and the solar wind are behaving differently in the current solar minimum, compared to the previous minimum. The radial component of the heliospheric magnetic field, and thus the average value of the component of the solar magnetic field that opens into the heliosphere, the so-called open magnetic flux of the Sun, is lower than it was in the previous solar minimum; in fact, lower than in any previous solar minimum for which there are good spacecraft observations. The mass flux, the ram pressure, and the coronal electron temperature as measured by solar wind charge states are also lower in the current minimum compared to the previous one. This situation provides an opportunity to test some of the concepts for the behavior of the heliospheric magnetic field and the solar wind that have been developed; to improve these theories, and to construct a theory for the solar wind that accounts for the observed behavior throughout the solar cycle, including the current unusual solar minimum.

We review our understanding of the kinematics of the LMC and the SMC, and their orbit around the Milky Way. The line-of-sight velocity fields of both the LMC and SMC have been mapped with high accuracy using thousands of discrete traces, as well as H i gas. The LMC is a rotating disk for which the viewing angles have been well established using various methods. The disk is elliptical in its disk plane. The disk thickness varies depending on the tracer population, with V/σ ranging from ~2–10 from the oldest to the youngest population. For the SMC, the old stellar population resides in a spheroidal distribution with considerable line-of-sight depth and low V/σ. Young stars and H i gas reside in a more irregular rotating disk. Mass estimates based on the kinematics indicate that each Cloud is embedded in a dark halo. Proper motion measurements with HST show that both galaxies move significantly more rapidly around the Milky Way than previously believed. This indicates that for a canonical 1012 M⊙ Milky Way the Clouds are only passing by us for the first time. Although a higher Milky Way mass yields a bound orbit, this orbit is still very different from what has been previously assumed in models of the Magellanic Stream. Hence, much of our understanding of the history of the Magellanic System and the formation of the Magellanic Stream may need to be revised. The accuracy of the proper motion data is insufficient to say whether or not the LMC and SMC are bound to each other, but bound orbits do exist within the proper motion error ellipse.

Assuming that the largest convective patterns generate the majority of convective transport, we devise a numerical scheme simplifying the convective velocity field using two parallel radial columns to represent up- and downstream flows. Horizontal exchange is described by fluid flow and radiation over the interface between those two columns. The main parameters of this convective description have a straightforward geometrical meaning, namely the diameter of the columns (representing the size of the convective cells) and the ratio of cross section between up- and downdrafts. For this geometrical setup, the equations of radiation hydrodynamics are solved time-dependently using an implicit scheme which has the advantage of being devoid of any time step limits. In order to demonstrate our approach, we present comparisons with detailed 2D hydrodynamics computations for the example of convection zones in Cepheids.

Radial velocity planet searches have revealed that many giant planets have large eccentricities, in striking contrast with the giant planets in the solar system and prior theories of planet formation. The realization that many giant planets have large eccentricities raises a fundamental question: Do terrestrial-size planets of other stars typically have significantly eccentric orbits or nearly circular orbits like the Earth? While space-based missions such as CoRoT and Kepler will be capable of detecting nearly Earth-sized planets, it will be extremely challenging to measure their eccentricities using radial velocity observations. We review several ways that photometric measurements of transit light curves can constrain the eccentricity of transiting planets. In particular, photometric observations of transit durations can be used to characterize the distribution of orbital eccentricities for various populations of transiting planets (e.g., nearly Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone) without relying on radial velocity measurements. Applying this technique to rocky planets to be found by CoRoT and Kepler will enable constraints on theories for the excitation of eccentricities and tidal dissipation. We also remind observers that several short-period transiting planets are known to have significant eccentricities and caution that assuming they are on a circular orbit can reduce the probability of detecting transits, impact planning for follow-up observations, and adversely affect measurements of the physical parameters of the star and planet.

Over the last decade, several groups of young (mainly low-mass) stars have been discovered in the solar neighbourhood (closer than ~100pc), thanks to cross-correlation between X-ray, optical spectroscopy and kinematic data. These young local associations – including an important fraction whose members are Hipparcos stars – offer insights into the star formation process in low-density environments, shed light on the substellar domain, and could have played an important role in the recent history of the local interstellar medium. Ages estimates for these associations have been derived in the literature by several ways (HR diagram, spectra, Li and Hα widths, expansion motion, etc.). In this work we have studied the kinematic evolution of young local associations and their relation to other young stellar groups and structures in the local interstellar medium, thus casting new light on recent star formation processes in the solar neighbourhood. We compiled the data published in the literature for young local associations, including the astrometric data from the new Hipparcos reduction. Using a realistic Galactic potential we integrated the orbits for these associations and the Sco-Cen complex back in time. Combining these data with the spatial structure of the Local Bubble and the spiral structure of the Galaxy, we propose a recent history of star formation in the solar neighbourhood. We suggest that both the Sco-Cen complex and young local associations originated as a result of the impact of the inner spiral arm shock wave against a giant molecular cloud. The core of the giant molecular cloud formed the Sco-Cen complex, and some small cloudlets in a halo around the giant molecular cloud formed young local associations several million years later. We also propose a supernova in young local associations a few million years ago as the most likely candidate to have reheated the Local Bubble to its present temperature.

Dehydrogenated coronene molecules have been proposed as the source of the UV-bump in the interstellar extinction curve as well as of some of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). To test this hypothesis we have recently undertaken a combined (a) modelling, and (b) observational work on the subject. (a) In the framework of a global approach to the photophysics of a PAH–like species in space, we used combined theoretical calculated properties, obtained with (time–dependent) density functional theory, and a Monte–Carlo model simulating the time evolution of the population of levels of a given molecule, to obtain the detailed ro–vibrational spectral structure of selected electronic transitions. (b) From the observational point of view, we compare our predictions with observations of the well–known λ6284 and λ5780 DIBs.

We present the first results on galaxy metallicity evolution at z > 3 from two projects, LSD (Lyman-break galaxies Stellar populations and Dynamics) and AMAZE (Assessing the Mass Abundance redshift Evolution). These projects use deep near-infrared spectroscopic observations of a sample of ~40 LBGs to estimate the gas-phase metallicity from the emission lines. We derive the mass-metallicity relation at z > 3 and compare it with the same relation at lower redshift. Strong evolution from z = 0 and z = 2 to z = 3 is observed, and this finding puts strong constraints on the models of galaxy evolution. These preliminary results show that the effective oxygen yields do not increase with stellar mass, implying that the simple outflow model does not apply at z > 3.

We calculate the relative magnitudes of the fluctuations in total synchrotron intensity in the interstellar medium, both from observations and from theory under various assumptions about the correlation or anticorrelation between cosmic rays and interstellar magnetic fields. The results are inconsistent with local energy equipartition between cosmic rays and magnetic fields. The distribution of cosmic rays must be rather uniform at scales of order 1 kpc, whereas interstellar magnetic fields vary at much smaller scales.

The structure of the outer parts of galactic disks and the nature of their stellar populations are fundamental to our understanding of the formation and evolution of spiral galaxies. Ages and metallicity distributions of stars in the outermost regions of spiral disks provide important clues on how and when the disks are assembled. In our earlier work we trace the extended stellar disk of NGC 300 out to a radius of at least 10 disk scale lengths, with no sign of truncation. We now revisit the outer disk of NGC 300 in order to derive the metallicity distribution of the faint stellar population in its outskirts. We find that predominantly old stellar population in the outer disk exhibits a negative abundance gradient – as predicted by the chemical evolution models – out to about 10 kpc, followed by the metallicity plateau in the outermost disk.

Division II of the IAU provides a forum for astronomers and astrophysicists studying a wide range of phenomena related to the structure, radiation and activity of the Sun, and its interaction with the Earth and the rest of the solar system. Division II encompasses three Commissions, 10, 12 and 49, and four Working Groups.

Thermohaline convection is a well known subject in oceanography, which has long been put aside in stellar physics. In the ocean, it occurs when warm salted layers sit on top of cool and less salted ones. Then the salted water rapidly diffuses downwards even in the presence of stabilizing temperature gradients, due to double diffusion between the falling blobs and their surroundings. A similar process may occur in stars in case of inverse μ-gradients in a thermally stabilized medium. Here we describe this process and some of its stellar applications.

It is generally accepted that the very first stars in the universe were significantly more massive and formed much more in isolation than stars observed today. This suggests that there was a transition in star formation modes that was most likely related to the metallicity of the star-forming environment. We study how the addition of heavy elements alters the dynamics of collapsing gas by performing a series of numerical simulations of primordial star formation with various levels of pre-enrichment, using the adaptive mesh refinement, hydrodynamic + N-body code, Enzo. At high redshifts, the process of star formation is heavily influenced by the cosmic microwave background (CMB), which creates a temperature floor for the gas. Our results show that cloud-collapse can follow three distinct paths, depending on the metallicity. For very low metallicities (log10(Z/Z⊙) < −3.5), star formation proceeds in the primordial mode, producing only massive, singular objects. For high metallicities (log10(Z/Z⊙) > −3), efficient cooling from the metals cools the gas to the CMB temperature when the core density is still very low. When the gas temperature reaches the CMB temperature, the core becomes very thermally stable, and further fragmentation is heavily suppressed. In our simulations with log10(Z/Z⊙) > −3, only a single object forms with a mass-scale of a few hundred M⊙. We refer to this as the CMB-regulated star formation mode. For metallicities between these two limits (−3.5 < log10(Z/Z⊙) < −3), the gas cools efficiently, but never reaches the CMB temperature. In this mode, termed the metallicity-regulated star formation mode, the minimum gas temperature is reached at much higher densities, allowing the core to fragment and form multiple objects with mass-scales of only a few M⊙. Our results imply that the stellar initial mass function was top-heavy at very high redshift due to stars forming in the CMB-regulated mode. As the CMB temperature lowers with time, the metallicity-regulated star formation mode (producing multiple low-mass stars) operates at higher metallicities and eventually becomes the sole mode of star formation.

OH masers spots are observed with the VLBA at 1612, 1665 and 1667 MHz. The orientation of the ellipses resulting from scattering are all nearly aligned perpendicular to the galactic plane. These ordered orientation could be due to the galactic magnetic field.

Commission 10 deals with solar activity in all of its forms, ranging from the smallest nanoflares to the largest coronal mass ejections. This report reviews scientific progress over the roughly two-year period ending in the middle of 2008. This has been an exciting time in solar physics, highlighted by the launches of the Hinode and STEREO missions late in 2006. The report is reasonably comprehensive, though it is far from exhaustive. Limited space prevents the inclusion of many significant results. The report is divided into the following sections: Photosphere and chromosphere; Transition region; Corona and coronal heating; Coronal jets; flares; Coronal mass ejection initiation; Global coronal waves and shocks; Coronal dimming; The link between low coronal CME signatures and magnetic clouds; Coronal mass ejections in the heliosphere; and Coronal mass ejections and space weather. Primary authorship is indicated at the beginning of each section.

New information on the relations between the Galactic disks, the halo, and satellite galaxies is being obtained from elemental abundances of stars having metallicities in the range −1.5 < [Fe/H] < −0.5. The first results for a sample of 26 halo stars and 13 thick-disk stars observed with the ESO VLT/UVES spectrograph are presented. The halo stars fall in two distinct groups: one group (9 stars) has [α/Fe] = 0.30 ± 0.03 like the thick-disk stars. The other group (17 stars) shows a clearly deviating trend ranging from [α/Fe] = 0.20 at [Fe/H] = −1.3 to [α/Fe] = 0.08 at [Fe/H] = −0.8. The kinematics of the stars are discussed and the abundance ratios Na/Fe, Ni/Fe, Cu/Fe and Ba/Y are applied to see if the “low-alpha” stars are connected to the thin disk or to Milky Way satellite galaxies. Furthermore, we compare our data with simulations of chemical abundance distributions in hierarchically formed stellar halos in a ΛCDM Universe.

We review physical processes in magnetized chromospheres on the Sun. In the quiet chromosphere, it is useful to distinguish between the magnetic network on the boundaries of supergranules, where strong magnetic fields are organized in mainly vertical flux tubes and internetwork regions in the cell interiors, which have traditionally been associated with weak magnetic fields. Recent observations from Hinode, however, suggest that there is a significant amount of horizontal magnetic flux in the cell interior with large field strength. Furthermore, processes that heat the magnetic network have not been fully identified. Is the network heated by wave dissipation and if so, what is the nature of these waves? These and other aspects related to the role of spicules will also be highlighted. A critical assessment will be made on the challenges facing theory and observations, particularly in light of the new space experiments and the planned ground facilities.

Along with chromospheric emission, lithium abundances are widely used to infer the ages of solar-like. We re-assess the validity and limits of this approach, based on new high quality Li measurements in seven open clusters observed with Giraffe on the ESO VLT.

The Canadian MOST satellite is a unique platform for observations of bright transiting exoplanetary systems. Providing nearly continuous photometric observations for up to 4 weeks, MOST can produce important observational data to help us learn about the properties of exosolar planets. We review our current observations of HD 209458 and HD 189733 with implications for the albedo and our progress towards detecting reflected light from an exoplanet.

We report on new results in the search for diffuse bands, signatures of still unknown origin, in the circumstellar envelopes of evolved (post-AGB) stars.

In HST Cycles 11 and 13 we obtained two epochs of ACS/HRC data for fields in the Magellanic Clouds centered on background quasars. We used these data to determine the proper motions of the LMC and SMC to better than 5% and 15% respectively. The results had a number of unexpected implications for the Milky Way-LMC-SMC system. The implied three-dimensional velocities were larger than previously believed and close to the escape velocity in a standard 1012 M⊙ Milky Way dark halo, implying that the Clouds may be on their first passage. Also, the relative velocity between the LMC and SMC was larger than expected, leaving open the possibility that the Clouds may not be bound to each other. To further verify and refine our results we requested an additional epoch of data in Cycle 16 which is being executed with WFPC2/PC due to the failure of ACS. We present the results of an ongoing analysis of these WFPC2 data which indicate good consistency with the two-epoch results.