Astrology meets a large success in our societies, from the private to the political sphere as well as in the media, in spite of the demonstrated inaccuracy of its psychological as well as operational predictions. We analyse here the relations between astrology and astronomy, as well as the criticisms opposed by the latter to the former. We show that most of these criticisms are weak. Much stronger ones emerge from the analysis of the astrological practice compared to the scientific method, leading us to conclude to the non-scientificity of astrology. Then we return to the success of astrology, and from its analysis we propose a renewed (and prophylactic) rôle for astronomy in society.

Throughout human history, astronomy has played crucial rôle in the development of our civilization, culture and daily chores of lives that have been influenced by observations of Sun, moon, planets, stars and other cosmic entities. Our ancestors who were hunting and gathering and foraging food while living in caves learned to think logically by gazing at the twinkling stars in the heavens. Seasons for crops plantation were determined, time concept was introduced, entire sky was charted and the motions of celestial objects were meaningfully understood. With the advent of telescopes, the geocentric model of universe was replaced by the revolutionary heliocentric concept of our Solar System. Astronomy dispelled superstitious beliefs strongly prevailing in societies. Closely associated with numerous disciplines of science astronomy is still flourishing worldwide and is attempting to fly us away to those habitable cosmic bodies of our universe. By establishing well-equipped observational infrastructure local and international astronomy research and development could be enhanced. Introduction of astronomy in education system right from school would attract and encourage students to pursue higher studies for enabling them for participating in future international scientific and exploration programmes. Astronomy has helped our society to progress peacefully and efficiently.

The expansion rate of the Universe can potentially be measured using age-dating of Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs). Here, we explore the validity of the assumptions implicit in this method using LRGs identified in the Millenium Simulation (MS). We use stellar population modelling and spectral synthesis to estimate the errors on ages that can be expected and discuss optimization of such an experiment. We find that H(z) using simulated galaxies from MS can be recovered with high accuracy. Using single stellar populations (SSPs) to age-date LRGs is not sufficient but if the MS star formation histories of galaxies are used, accurate ages are obtainable. We discuss an observing program to carry out this experiment using SALT (Southern African Large Telescope).

A dormant supermassive black hole lurking in the center of a galaxy will be revealed when a star passes within its tidal disruption radius, is disrupted, and a flare of electromagnetic radiation is emitted when the bound stellar debris is accreted. Although the tidal disruption of a star is a rare event in a galaxy, ~ 10−4 yr−1, observational candidates have emerged in all-sky X-ray and deep UV surveys in the form of luminous UV/X-ray flares from otherwise quiescent galaxies. We present the light curves and broadband properties of three tidal disruption candidates discovered in the UV by GALEX, and find that (1) the light curves are well-fitted by the power-law decline expected for the fallback of debris from a tidally disrupted solar-type star, and (2) the UV/optical spectral energy distributions can be attributed to thermal emission from an envelope of debris located at ten times the tidal disruption radius of the central black hole. We use the observed peak absolute optical magnitudes of the flares to predict the detection capabilities of the next generation of wide-field optical synoptic surveys.

We investigate the angular momentum distribution of known exoplanetary systems, as a function of the planetary mass, orbital semimajor axis and metallicity of the host star. We find exoplanets seems to be classified according to at least two ‘populations’, with respect to their angular momentum properties. This classification is independent on the composition of the planet and seems to be valid for both jovian and neptunian planets, and probably can be extrapolated to the terrestrial planets of the Solar System. We analyse these ‘populations’ considering the phenomenon of planetary migration.

I present results of a search for cataclysmic variables (CVs) and chromospherically active binaries (ABs) as counterparts to X-ray sources detected with Chandra in six Galactic globular clusters (GCs): M 4, M 28, M 30, M 71, M 80, and NGC 6752. Binary systems play a critical role in the evolution of GCs, serving as an internal energy source countering the tendency of GC cores to collapse. Theoretical studies predict dozens of CVs in the cores of some GCs (e.g., 130 for M 28, 40 for M 30). A number of such binaries are also expected outside the core radius. However, few CVs are known so far in GCs. Using the 4.1m SOAR telescope, I have found 25 stars with Hα excess in the observed clusters. Six are candidate CVs, five are candidate active binaries. The other 14 objects with Hα excess are probably foreground/background stars or extragalactic sources.

Recent studies of the hot interstellar medium in normal elliptical galaxies have shown that (1) the gas is only approximately hydrostatic; (2) morphological disturbances are corrleated with radio and X-ray signatures of AGN; and (3) temperature gradients in the main bodies of the galaxies are correlated with nuclear activity but not with environment. An X-ray Gas Fundamental Plane (XGFP), unrelated to the stellar fundamental plane, links the global gas properties in a relation whose origin is not yet understood.

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences (AASS) play an effective rôle in Sciences, Technology and Community Development. Unfortunately, a small percentage of this knowledge is actually used in teaching at schools, universities and other academic institutions in Arab countries. The challenge is to provide effective professional development for AASS educators and researchers at all levels, from elementary school to university.There is an urgent need for a better communication channels among Arab astronomers and space scientists nowadays. In this respect, the best choice is to identify in the vast cultural heritage of the Arab basin, particularly in astronomy. Building modern and good observatories, planetariums and research centres in the region jointly by Arab astronomers and space scientists is essential and will be an excellent step towards developing AASS. The aim of this paper is to show the importance of the formal and informal astronomical research and education, giving examples of possible astronomical projects, and comments of the experiences that have been carried out in a few Arab Countries. We show as well the importance of the Astronomical Societies in developing Science and Technology in the fields of AASS, and the role of these societies on the community and the country development.

One of the most significant observational improvements allowed by the high quality Chandra data of galaxies is the measurement of the nuclear luminosities down to low values, and of the hot ISM properties down to very low gas contents. I present here some recent developements concerning the possibility of accreting and outflowing gas, based on modeling results that take into account the role of a central supermassive black hole (MBH).

We explore the non-standard mixing history of five solar twins to determine as precisely as possible their mass and age. For this, we computed a grid of evolutionary models with non-standard mixing at given metallicities with the Toulouse-Geneva code for a range of stellar masses. We choose the evolutionary model that best fit the low lithium abundances observed in the solar twins. Our best model for each solar twin provides a mass and age solution constrained by their Li content and Teff determination. Li depletion due to the additional mixing in solar-twins is strongly mass dependent. An accurate lithium abundance measurement connected with non-standard models provides a more precise information about the age and mass better than that determined only by classical methods.

Stars in the very early stages of their formation are characterized by strong infrared excess and X-ray emission. We present the results of the survey of Orion A in both the infrared and X-rays obtained with the Spitzer and XMM/Newton observatories. We study the spectral-energy distribution class of the young stellar object (YSO) population using infrared colors from 2mass and Spitzer (IRAC and MIPS) and by means of X-ray fluxes, luminosities and plasma temperatures. We discuss clustering properties and spatial segregation among different infrared YSO classes to trace their formation history.

NGC 7582 is defined as a Starburst/AGN galaxy, since its optical and X-Ray spectra reveal both characteristics. In this work, we show the results of a stellar population modeling in a datacube taken with the Gemini South telescope. We found that ~ 90% of the light in the field of view is emitted by stars that are less than 1 billion years old. A strong burst occurred about ~ 6 million years ago and has nearly solar metallicity. We also found a Wolf-Rayet cluster.

In this work, we study the feasibility of four physical mechanisms for driving jet/disk precession in the galaxies NGC 4258, NGC 1068, 3C 120, OJ 287 and Arp 102B. Given the many observational uncertainties that still exist in the parameters of those AGN, we find that it is difficult to discriminate unambiguously what mechanism is actually responsible for precession.

We tackle the long-standing question “what is the relevance of major mergers and interactions as triggering mechanisms for AGN activity?” We study a sample of 83 quasars over z ~ 0.3–1.0 with high-resolution HST/ACS imaging in the F814W (broad I) band in the COSMOS field (Scoville et al. 2007), detected by their X-ray emission in the XMM-Newton survey (Hasinger et al. 2007). We perform a visual analysis of their morphologies, looking for signatures of merging and interactions in their host galaxies that could potentially be related to the AGN fueling mechanism. To get the best possible picture of the host galaxies, we remove the bright quasar by modeling each of them as a Sersic surface brightness profile plus a central point source, through a 2-D parametric fit.

We developed an iterative technique to better characterize stellar populations and the central activity of barred galaxies using evolutionary synthesis codes and OASIS data. The case of NGC 5430 is presented here. Our results are reinforcing the role played by the bar and nuclear structures for the evolution of galaxies.

We report on preliminary results of spectroscopic determination of the atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances of the parent stars of the recently discovered transiting planets CoRoT-2b and CoRoT-4b. We found a flat distribution of the relative abundances as a function of their condensation temperatures. Also, we introduce a new methodology to investigate a relation between the abundances of these stars and the internal migration of their planets.

“Astronomers Without Borders” is a new global organisational dedicated to furthering understanding and goodwill across national and cultural boundaries using the universal appeal of astronomy and space science. A growing network of affiliate organisations brings together clubs, magazines and other organizations involved in astronomy and space science. Forums, galleries, video conferences and other interactive technologies are used to connect participants around the world. Sharing of resources and direct connections through travel programs are also planned. One project, “The World at Night” (TWAN), has become an Special Project of IYA2009. TWAN creates wide-angle images of the night sky in important natural and historic settings around the world, dramatically demonstrating the universal nature and appeal of the night sky. “Astronomers Without Borders” is also a leader of the 100 Hours of Astronomy IYA2009 Global Cornerstone Project.

Hyperfine structure (HFS) line of 14N VII ion with rest frequency of ν = 53.04 GHz should be detectable from the interstellar medium in some of the densest and coolest cores of elliptical galaxies at redshifts exceeding 0.15 or so.

The origin and evolution of stellar rotation has proven to be both important and challenging. Data obtained in star clusters has already provided key constraints on the role of protostellar disks and the timescales for angular-momentum loss and internal transport. Recent data sets also provide empirical support for the idea that a wide range of rotation rates converge on the main sequence. We evaluate the prospects for rotation–mass–age relationships and the role of open clusters in calibrating them.

We have examined in detail both the resolved and integrated stellar content of a representative sample of galaxies in the Virgo cluster to constrain plausible formation/evolution scenarios for them. Systematic variations in age and metallicity gradients along the Hubble sequence are found such that the gradients become more negative for later types. Combined with correlations of the above stellar properties with both structure and environment, these data highlight the significance of merging in the assembly of massive spheroids and environmental phenomena (gas removal/interactions) in the evolution of disks and dwarf systems. Our data also provide useful perspectives on a number of important topics in the recent literature.