arXiv subjects

A. C. Milone

Publications and source records attributed to A. C. Milone.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

The 2021 mutual phenomena involving the Galilean satellites of Jupiter and the inner satellite Thebe

Astrometric studies and orbital modeling of planetary moons have contributed significantly to advancing our understanding of their orbital dynamics. These studies require precise positions measured over extended periods. In this paper, we present the results of the 2021 Brazilian Jovian mutual phenomena campaign. The data correspond to eight events between Galilean satellites, in addition to a rare eclipse of Thebe, an inner satellite, totaling nine events. A geometric model along with the DE440/JUP365 ephemerides was used to reproduce the events and simulate the light curves. A Monte Carlo method and chi-squared statistics were used to fit the simulated light curves to the observations. The reflectance model adopted for our simulations was the complete version of the Oren-Nayer model. The average uncertainty of the relative positions of the Galilean satellites was 5 mas (15 km) and for the inner Thebe satellite 32 mas (96 km). The seven mutual events (nine independent observations) here analyzed represent and addition of 17% events (10% light curves) with respect to the PHEMU21 international campaign. Furthermore, our result of Thebe eclipse is only the second measurement published to date. Our results contribute to the ephemeris database, being fundamental to improving satellite orbits and thus minimizing their uncertainties.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2019

The trans-Neptunian object (84922) 2003 VS2 through stellar occultations

We present results from three world-wide campaigns that resulted in the detections of two single-chord and one multi-chord stellar occultations by the Plutino object (84922) 2003~VS$_2$. From the single-chord occultations in 2013 and 2014 we obtained accurate astrometric positions for the object, while from the multi-chord occultation on November 7th, 2014, we obtained the parameters of the best-fitting ellipse to the limb of the body at the time of occultation. We also obtained short-term photometry data for the body in order to derive its rotational phase during the occultation. The rotational light curve present a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.141 $\pm$ 0.009 mag. This allows us to reconstruct the three-dimensional shape of the body, with principal semi-axes $a = 313.8 \pm 7.1$ km, $b = 265.5^{+8.8}_{-9.8}$ km, and $c = 247.3^{+26.6}_{-43.6}$ km, which is not consistent with a Jacobi triaxial equilibrium figure. The derived spherical volume equivalent diameter of $548.3 ^{+29.5}_{-44.6}$ km is about 5\% larger than the radiometric diameter of 2003~VS$_2$ derived from Herschel data of $523 \pm 35$ km, but still compatible with it within error bars. From those results we can also derive the geometric albedo ($0.123 ^{+0.015}_{-0.014}$) and, under the assumption that the object is a Maclaurin spheroid, the density $ρ= 1400^{+1000}_{-300}$ for the plutino. The disappearances and reappearances of the star during the occultations do not show any compelling evidence for a global atmosphere considering a pressure upper limit of about 1 microbar for a pure nitrogen atmosphere, nor secondary features (e.g. rings or satellite) around the main body.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2018

Eight luminous early-type galaxies in nearby pairs and sparse groups I. Stellar populations spatially analysed

We present a detailed spatial analysis of stellar populations based on long-slit optical spectra in a sample of eight luminous early-type galaxies selected from nearby sparse groups and pairs, three of them may be interacting with a galaxy of similar mass. We have measured luminosity-weighted averages of age, [M/H], [Fe/H], and [$α$/Fe] to add empirical data relative to the influence of galaxy mass, environment, interaction, and AGN feedback in their formation and evolution. The stellar population of the individual galaxies were determined through the stellar population synthesis code STARLIGHT using semi-empirical simple stellar population models. Radial variations of luminosity-weighted means of age, [M/H], [Fe/H], and [$α$/Fe] were measured up to half of the effective radius of each galaxy. We found trends between these values and the nuclear stellar velocity dispersion. There are also relations between the metallicity/age gradients and the velocity dispersion. Contributions of 1-4 Gyr old stellar populations were found in IC5328 and NGC6758 as well as 4-8 Gyr old ones in NGC5812. Extended gas is present in IC5328, NGC1052, NGC1209, and NGC6758, and the presence of a LINER is identified in all these galaxies. The regions up to one effective radius of all galaxies are dominated by $α$-enhanced metal-rich old stellar populations likely due to rapid star formation episodes that induced efficient chemical enrichment. On average, the age and [$α$/Fe] gradients are null and the [M/H] gradients are negative, although discordant cases were found. We found no correlation between the stellar population properties and the LINER presence as well as between the stellar properties and environment or gravitational interaction, suggesting that the influence of progenitor mass can-not be discarded in the formation and evolution of early-type galaxies.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

Results of two multi-chord stellar occultations by dwarf planet (1) Ceres

We report the results of two multi-chord stellar occultations by the dwarf planet (1) Ceres that were observed from Brazil on 2010 August 17, and from the USA on 2013 October 25. Four positive detections were obtained for the 2010 occultation, and nine for the 2013 occultation. Elliptical models were adjusted to the observed chords to obtain Ceres' size and shape. Two limb fitting solutions were studied for each event. The first one is a nominal solution with an indeterminate polar aspect angle. The second one was constrained by the pole coordinates as given by Drummond et al. Assuming a Maclaurin spheroid, we determine an equatorial diameter of 972 $\pm$ 6 km and an apparent oblateness of 0.08 $\pm$ 0.03 as our best solution. These results are compared to all available size and shape determinations for Ceres made so far, and shall be confirmed by the NASA's Dawn space mission.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2015

Homogeneous abundance analysis of dwarf, subgiant and giant FGK stars with and without giant planets

We have analyzed high-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of nearby FGK stars with and without detected giant planets in order to homogeneously measure their photospheric parameters, mass, age, and the abundances of volatile (C, N, and O) and refractory (Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Ba) elements. Our sample contains 309 stars from the solar neighborhood (up to the distance of 100 pc), out of which 140 are dwarfs, 29 are subgiants, and 140 are giants. The photospheric parameters are derived from the equivalent widths of Fe I and Fe II lines. Masses and ages come from the interpolation in evolutionary tracks and isochrones on the HR diagram. The abundance determination is based on the equivalent widths of selected atomic lines of the refractory elements and on the spectral synthesis of C_2, CN, C I, O I, and Na I features. We apply a set of statistical methods to analyze the abundances derived for the three subsamples. Our results show that: i) giant stars systematically exhibit underabundance in [C/Fe] and overabundance in [N/Fe] and [Na/Fe] in comparison with dwarfs, a result that is normally attributed to evolution-induced mixing processes in the envelope of evolved stars; ii) for solar analogs only, the abundance trends with the condensation temperature of the elements are correlated with age and anticorrelated with the surface gravity, which is in agreement with recent studies; iii) as in the case of [Fe/H], dwarf stars with giant planets are systematically enriched in [X/H] for all the analyzed elements, except for O and Ba (the former due to limitations of statistics), confirming previous findings in the literature that not only iron has an important relation with the planetary formation; and iv) giant planet hosts are also significantly overabundant for the same metallicity when the elements from Mg to Cu are combined together.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Accurate and homogeneous abundance patterns in solar-type stars of the solar neighbourhood: a chemo-chronological analysis

We report the abundances of C, Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, Ce, Nd, and Sm in 25 solar-type stars in the solar neighbourhood, and their correlations with ages, kinematics, and orbital parameters. The spectroscopic analysis, based high resolution and high S/N ratio data, was differential to the Sun and applied to atomic line EWs and to C and C2 spectral synthesis. We performed a statistical study using a tree clustering analysis, searching for groups of stars sharing similar abundance patterns. We derived Teff, log(g), and [Fe/H] with errors of 30 K, 0.13 dex, and 0.05 dex, respectively. The average error in [X/Fe] is 0.06 dex. Ages were derived from theoretical HR diagrams and memberships in kinematical moving groups. We identified four stellar groups: with over-solar abundances (<[X/H]> = +0.26 dex), under-solar abundances (<[X/H]> = -0.24 dex), and intermediate values (<[X/H]> = -0.06 and +0.06 dex) but with distinct chemical patterns. Stars sharing solar metallicity, age, and Galactic orbit possibly have non-solar abundance, an effect either of chemical heterogeneity in their natal clouds or migration. A trend of [Cu/Fe] with [Ba/Fe] seems to exist, in agreement with previous claims in the literature, and maybe also of [Sm/Fe] with [Ba/Fe]. No such correlation involving C, Na, Mn, and Zn is observed. [Mg/Fe], [Sc/Fe], and [Ti/Fe] increase with age. [Mn/Fe] and [Cu/Fe] first increase towards younger stars up to the solar age, and then decrease, a result we interpret as possibly related to time-varying yields of SN Ia and the weak s-process. [Sr/Fe], [Y/Fe], [Sr/Mg], [Y/Mg], [Sr/Zn], and [Y/Zn] linearly increase towards younger stars. [Zr/Fe], [Ce/Fe], [Nd/Fe], [Ba/Mg], [Ba/Zn], and [Sr,Y,Ba/Sm] increase but only for stars younger than the Sun. The steepest negative age relation is due to [Ba/Fe], but only for stars younger than the Sun.

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