We present first results of the X-ray spectral analysis of 500 ksec deep survey images obtained with XMM-Newton on the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS). Statistical distributions of spectral index and intrinsic absorption are derived for a sample containing 70 sources with a count limit of 100 (flux limit in the 2-10 keV band of 8.9×10-16 erg cm-2s

GRB 020321 is a faint GRB that received wide follow-up attention in X-rays (BeppoSAX/NFI, Chandra/ACIS-S, XMM-Newton), radio (ATCA) and optical (ESO, HST). We identify a weak X-ray afterglow by a combined study of the Chandra and XMM-Newton observations. Its decay index of 1.2 is typical for GRB afterglows. Inside the 4 arcsec accurate error box

We present new UBVI CCD observations of the old LMC globular cluster RETICULUM. These data allowed us to re-determine periods and light curves and to identify 4 double mode RR Lyrae stars. A comparison with the theoretical instability strip in the M_V-log P plane shows good agreement between theory and observations when an apparent distance modulus

We investigate the improved detection of extrasolar planets around eclipsing binaries using eclipse minima timing and extrasolar moons around transiting planets using transit timing offered by the upcoming COROT (ESA, 2005), Kepler (NASA, 2007), and Eddington (ESA 2008) spacecraft missions. Hundreds of circum-binary planets should be discovered and

Using the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), we have observed water maser emission in the proto-planetary nebula candidate IRAS 19134+2131, in which the water maser spectrum has two groups of emission features separated in radial velocity by ˜100 km s-1. The blue-shifted and red-shifted clusters of maser features are

We determine the Fe abundances for several blue compact and emission-line galaxies. The O/Fe abundance ratios are found to increase with the metallicity of the galaxy, and to decrease with its degree of ionization. These correlations are interpreted as reflecting a decrease for lower metallicities of the depletion of Fe atoms on to dust grains