We search high-resolution and high-quality VLT/UVES optical spectra of the hot R Coronae Borealis star DY Cen for electronic transitions of the C60 molecule and diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). We report the non-detection of the strongest C60 electronic transitions (e.g., those at ~3760, 3980, and 4024 Å). The absence of C60 absorption bands may

The velocity field of the central parts of the elliptical galaxy NGC 7626 has been mapped by obtaining high resolution curves and velocity dispersion profiles for four slit position angles along the major, minor and two intermediate photometric axes. Each rotation curve and dispersion profile shows a high level of structure. Along the major axis

The High-Velocity Clouds (HVCs) observed in the Galactic neighbourhood, have been proposed to be remnants of the formation of the galaxies in the Local Group, having distances, and thus masses, predominantly of dark matter, considerably larger than hitherto hypothesized. This hypothesis is plausibly supported by observational evidence that their

From an H-α image of the spiral barred galaxy NGC 3359, an HII region catalogue is composed. The catalogue comprises the position, mean radius and the calibrated H-alpha luminosity of each HII region. The observations of the image of NGC 3359 in H-α were carried out in February 1996, on the Isaac Newton telescope in La Palma in the context of the

We present observations of magnetic fields of the very quiet Sun near disk center using the Spectro-Polarimeter of the Solar Optical Telescope aboard the Hinode satellite. These observations reveal for the first time the ubiquitous presence of horizontal magnetic fields in the internetwork regions. The horizontal fields are spatially distinct from

Seeing statistics from several year-long site-testing campaigns carried out at different locations at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) are reviewed (this contribution contains results previously published by Munoz-Tunon et al. (1997) [Estudio de Sitio para el Gran Telescopio: Informe final; A&AS, 125, 183]). In particular, tests at the