The only way to obtain reliable empirical information on the intensity and topology of the weak magnetic fields of the quiet solar chromosphere is via the measurement and rigorous physical interpretation of polarization signals in chromospheric spectral lines. The observed Stokes profiles reported here are due to the Hanle and Zeeman effects

On 8-9 September 2006, a series of 7 XMM-Newton observations were performed as part of our XMM-Newton/Chandra monitoring campaign of the 1.7 square degree region around Sgr A* (Wijnands et al. 2006, A&A, 449, 1117). Two X-ray transients were active during our observations. A very-faint transient is active with an 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity of

We report a re-brightening of the millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934. In August the source performed an outburst which was detected in X-ray, UV and optical (ATel #1660, #1664, #1665, #1666, #1667, #1668). Since then we have continued to monitor this source with the Faulkes Telescope North in many optical filters as it appeared to be fading

The formational and evolutionary history of natural satellites, their mineralogical composition and other phenomena of scientific interest are discussed. Key scientific questions about IO, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa are posed and the measurements and instruments required for a Galilean satellite lander in the 1980's are described.

Using the low-resolution mode of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we obtain spectra from 20 spatially-resolved, ultracool dwarfs, eighteen of which belong to nine very low-mass binary systems with known angular separations in the range 0.37 arcsec-0.098 arcsec. For these dwarfs, we derive

Aims: Fossil record methods based on spectral synthesis techniques have matured during the past decade, and their application to integrated galaxy spectra has fostered substantial advances in the understanding of galaxies and their evolution. Yet, because of the lack of spatial resolution, these studies are limited to a global view, providing no