We present analytic formulae that approximate the evolution of stars for a wide range of mass M and metallicity Z. Stellar luminosity, radius and core mass are given as a function of age, M and Z, for all phases from the zero-age main sequence up to, and including, the remnant stages. For the most part we find continuous formulae accurate to within

IAUC 7468 available at Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.

CCD UBV photometry of 2279 stars in Sextans A is presented. Differences with the photometric scales of Sandage and Carlson (1985AJ.....90.1019S) and Hoessel et al. (1983ApJ...274..577H) are discussed; recalibration of the Sandage and Carlson data for Cepheids in Sextans A results in a smaller value for the distance modulus, μ=25.6. A similar value

In order to maximize the science return while minimizing running cost, the operational and maintenance requirements are being considered during the design of the GTC. Following this adopted integrated logistic support approach; GTC has produced the baselines of the GTC Operation and Maintenance Plans. These plans describe the science operation

We present Keck HIRES spectra of six late-M dwarfs and 11 L dwarfs. Our goal is to assign effective temperatures to the objects using detailed atmospheric models and fine analysis of the alkali resonance absorption lines of Cs I and Rb I. These yield mutually consistent results (+/-50 K) when we use ``cleared-dust'' models, which account for the

Recent observations and theoretical considerations have linked gamma-ray bursts with ultra-bright type Ibc supernovae (`hypernovae'). We here work out a specific scenario for this connection. Based on earlier work, we argue that especially the longest bursts must be powered by the Blandford-Znajek mechanism of electromagnetic extraction of spin