We present images and high-resolution spectra of the planetary nebulae IC 2553 and NGC 5882. Spatiokinematic modeling of the nebulae shows that they are composed of a markedly elongated inner shell and of a less aspherical outer shell expanding at a considerably higher velocity than the inner one. Embedded in the outer shells of both nebulae are

Polarization modulators based on Liquid Crystal Variable Retarders (LCVRs) are envisaged as a powerful and versatile solution whose main advantage is the lack of mechanisms (i.e. rotating plates). An extensive test campaign has been carried out in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the LCVRs for the IMaX/SUNRISE magnetograph in environmental

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The solar outer atmosphere is an extremely dynamic environment characterized by the continuous interplay between the plasma and the magnetic field that generates and permeates it. Such interactions play a fundamental role in hugely diverse astrophysical systems, but occur at scales that cannot be studied outside the solar system. Understanding this

Aims: Current and upcoming space missions may be able to detect moons of transiting extra-solar planets. In this context it is important to understand if exomoons are expected to exist and what their possible properties are. Methods: Using estimates for the stability of exomoon orbits from numerical studies, a list of 87 known transiting exoplanets

We analyse the skewness of the line-of-sight velocity distributions in model elliptical galaxies built through collisionless galaxy mergers. We build the models using large N-body simulations of mergers between either two spiral or two elliptical galaxies. Our aim is to investigate whether the observed ranges of skewness coefficient (h3) and the