We report continuum observations of the NGC 7538–IRS 1, 2 and 3 regions made with the NRO 45-metre dish between 43 and 90 GHz, and present a brief interpretation.

We have secured spectra at high signal/noise ratio in a grid of points across the entire Homunculus Nebula surrounding the peculiar, massive star η Carinae. The data cover the wavelength range 420–1000 nm. Included are parts of the outer nebulosity dating from a prehistoric ejection episode. At a spatial resolution of about 1 arcsec we find dramatic differences in emission Ime ratios and profiles, sometimes in adjacent resolution elements.

We present high-resolution absorption measurements (R ~ 150 000) of the interstellar Na I D-lines at 5890 Å observed towards 46 early-type stars. The distance to these stars ranges from 20–200 pc, allowing a probe of the local interstellar medium (LISM). The velocity structure, velocity dispersions and column densities of the various cloud components have been derived using an absorption line-fitting analysis. Sodium column densities have been determined for 23 of the 46 target stars. No sodium absorption was detected towards any of the stars with distances < 43 pc. Such null results imply a corresponding hydrogen column density limit, N(H), of ~ 2.5 × 1018cm−2 in many directions in the LISM. For three exceptionally vacant lines of sight (to β CMa, 36 Lyn and η Hya) this limit of low hydrogen column density can be placed out to a much further distance of > 150 pc.

We have plotted the distribution of sodium column density in the LISM for a total of 118 stars in the form of three galactic maps. These maps qualitatively show that the present picture of the LISM, in which the first 50 pc is essentially free of dense clumps of neutral gas, is correct. Our map of sodium columns for stars with distances > 100 pc shows that the region within the galactic quadrant defined by 200° < l < 270° shows a conspicuous absence of any significant concentration of neutral gas. This region will be a prime direction of study for forthcoming soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet satellite experiments.

There is growing evidence for the notion that large grains are an important constituent of the interstellar medium. It has been found to be necessary to invoke the presence of large grains (of radius a > 1.0 μm) in a number of circumstellar shells, including those around Eta Carinae, and some late type giants and supergiants. Most recently, as a result of IRAS observations, the same idea has been used in the interpretation of the extensive optically thin disks found around some young early type stars. It is important to establish size constraints on these grains, so as to determine better the probable mix of interstellar grains. Previous work on AG Carinae suggested merely that the grains in the circumstellar shell need to be larger than 1 μm, but gave no information regarding the maximum size which would be acceptable. In this paper, we explore the question of the characteristic size of the dust grains in the AG Carinae shell, by fitting the spatially integrated model energy distribution to observations over the wavelength range 360 nm–100 μm, and conclude that silicate grains of radius ~ 1.0 μm give a satisfactory fit to the spectrum and angular distribution, but that grains appreciably larger or smaller than this radius are unsatisfactory.

We have carried out an extensive survey of Hα emission stars in the Orion region over an area of about 100 deg2. We present the results for the areas A-0975 and A-0976 of about 25 deg2 each.

Observations of five cepheids in Crux are described and annual epochs of maxima presented. The O–C diagram of S Crucis shows changes between two alternative periods. The observing method appears suited to sites with only a limited number of hours available.

The authors analyse four high-dispersion IUE spectra of HD 184279 observed in 1979 and 1982.

Pulsar rotation measures have been used to investigate the structure of the local Galactic magnetic field. The Galactic field is found to be concentrated in the spiral arms and hence to be a spiral field. From the pulsars within 2kpc of the Sun, the field in the local spiral feature was modelled with Gaussian profiles in altitude and azimuth. In this model the field has a peak strength of 4.3 ± 0.2 μGauss directed towards Galactic longitude l = 73°±6°.

It has been suggested that diffuse X-ray sources observed in globular clusters may arise in bow shocks formed by the interaction of intracluster gas with a tenuous halo medium. This paper presents a study both of the cluster space motions and of the energetics of any possible bow shocks which would seem to rule out this hypothesis.

A photometric and spectroscopic survey of many of the cool H-deficient Carbon (HdC) stars, including the R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars, has been undertaken. For the RCB stars we have data on both the low amplitude photometric variations at maximum light and the major declines, the latter being the most distinguishing feature between the RCB and HdC stars.

The photometric data at maximum light have been analysed using the Lomb-Scargle Fourier method, which has revealed many significant periodicities. From estimates of the temperature of these stars, an observational period-temperature diagram can be compared with theoretical models. These models have also enabled us to determine the evolutionary lifetime of these stars for comparison with observational parameters, e.g., period changes.

Over the last several years we have photoelectrically covered the declines (and the recovery from some of these declines) of a number of RCB stars, from which we have been able to characterise two extreme types of decline behaviour. In addition, we have for the very first time spectroscopically recorded the initial decline phase of one (the prototype, R CrB) of these stars.

A nearly stationary pulsar wind is shown to be always collimating along the direction of rotation. It follows that the conventional picture of the equatorial pulsar wind can occur only in a highly time-dependent manner, which, if true, may account for the observed time variation within a single pulse. Furthermore, a mechanism, via excitation of magnetosolitons, is proposed for explaining the continuous generation of energetic electrons, which yield the observed radio emission in the Type II supernova remnants. Fully relativistic analyses will be presented to substantiate these claims.

The earlier work on the production of deuterium in the accretion tori around Population III objects has been criticised on the basis of relative production ratios of deuterium, helium-3 and 7Li. It is shown here that the criticism on the basis of helium-3 over-production is unjustified, as no measurement of helium-3 and lithium abundances for the same stars is available. It is predicted that indeed the helium-3 abundance determination will be the best means to verify the original hypothesis.

The origin of cylindrically symmetric supernova remnants (SNR) is discussed. The results of numerical simulations of the two best examples of barrel-like SNRs, SN 1006 and G296.5+10.0, are presented.

The effects of including low quality IRAS flux data in colour-colour diagrams is investigated, with a view to identifying Young Stellar Objects from the IRAS database. Colour criteria to perform this task are derived.

We present results of infrared continuum observations of the circumstellar disk surrounding the complex M78-SSV63.

In this paper we present the results of spectroscopic observations for 34 emission-line stars (ELSs) in the Orion belt region, which were detected in an extensive survery. Spectral classification and the intensities of Hα and Hβ emission have revealed that the observed ELSs are probably T-Tauri type stars.

This paper is the second report since 1984 on the photometric monitoring of long-period eclipsing binary stars at Yonsei University Observatory using a 61-cm reflector.

We have detected a large cold HI cloud consisting of several fragments in the region south of the Chamaeleon I dark cloud. The cold HI cloud is shown to be a future site of star formation.

The cold HI cloud in the region of the M17SW giant molecular cloud comprises three major fragments with a mean size of ~ 30 pc. Their overall distribution is rather similar to that of CO gas, but one of the fragments does not seem to have a molecular counterpart. It is shown that such a cloud is also a future site of star formation.

An analysis of 1973 RT Andromedae B and V light curves is presented. The results are fitted into a spot evolution sequence found in a previous study which used the same technique on different data. The new values of the system’s physical parameters are in general agreement with the earlier ones.