We build an accurate data base of 5200 HCN and HNC rotation–vibration energy levels, determined from existing laboratory data. 20 000 energy levels in the Harris et al. linelist are assigned approximate quantum numbers. These assignments, lab‐determined energy levels and Harris et al. energy levels are incorporated in to a new energy level list. A new linelist is presented, in which frequencies are computed using the lab‐determined energy levels where available, and the ab initio energy levels otherwise. The new linelist is then used to compute new model atmospheres and synthetic spectra for the carbon star WZ Cas. This results in better fit to the spectrum of WZ Cas in which the absorption feature at 3.56 μm is reproduced to a higher degree of accuracy than has previously been possible. We improve the reproduction of HCN absorption features by reducing the abundance of Si to [Si/H]=−0.5 dex, however, the strengths of the Δv= 2 CS band heads are overpredicted.

Context. Large spectroscopic surveys have discovered very peculiar and hitherto unknown types of active galactic nuclei (AGN). Such rare objects may hold clues to the accretion history of the supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies. Aims. We aim to create a sizeable sample of unusual quasars from the unprecedented spectroscopic database of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Methods. We exploit the spectral archive of the SDSS Data Release 7 to select unusual quasar spectra. The selection method is based on a combination of the power of self-organising maps and the visual inspection of a huge number of spectra. Self-organising maps were applied to nearly 10 5 spectra classified as quasars at redshifts from z = 0.6 to 4.3 by the SDSS pipeline. Particular attention was paid to minimise possible contamination by rare peculiar stellar spectral types. All selected quasar spectra were individually studied to determine the object type and the redshift.Results. We present a catalogue of 1005 quasars with unusual spectra. These spectra are dominated by either broad absorption lines (BALs; 42%), unusual red continua (27%), weak emission lines (18%), or conspicuously strong optical and/or UV iron emission (11%). This large sample provides a useful resource for both studying properties and relations of/between different types of unusual quasars and selecting particularly interesting objects, even though the compilation is not aimed at completeness in a quantifiable sense. The spectra are grouped into six types for which composite spectra are constructed and mean properties are computed. Remarkably, all these types turn out to be on average more luminous than comparison samples of normal quasars after a statistical correction is made for intrinsic reddening (E(B − V) ≈ 0 to 0.4 for SMC-like extinction). Both the unusual BAL quasars and the strong iron emitters have significantly lower radio luminosities than normal quasars. We also confirm that strong BALs avoid the most radioluminous quasars. For 32 particularly interesting objects, individual spectra are presented. Among these objects are quasars with many narrow BAL troughs and one quasar where the continuum is strongly suppressed by overlapping BAL troughs across nearly the whole SDSS spectrum. Finally, we create a sample of quasars similar to the two "mysterious" objects discovered by Hall et al. (2002, ApJS, 141, 267) and briefly discuss the quasar properties and possible explanations of their highly peculiar spectra.

???The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com???. Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13642.

Aims. We report results of a quantitative colorimetric UBVRI analysis of two flare events on the red dwarf EV Lac. The photometric data were obtained in September 2004, during the multi-site synchronous monitoring from the four observatories in Ukraine, Russia, Greece, and Bulgaria. These observations confirmed the presence of small-scale high-frequency oscillations (HFO) initially detected by Rodonó (1974, A&A, 32, 337) and recently reconfirmed by the authors. Here we discuss the color characteristics of flares and HFO. Methods. Colorimetric analysis had been performed with the help of the time tracks in the UBVRI color-color diagrams from the earliest phase of flare development. Digital filtering technique was used to evaluate the time-dependent color indices. Results. As can be clearly seen in the diagrams, color indices oscillate on a time scale of seconds, far exceeding instrumental errors. Regarding the HFO, we conclude that the bulk of a flare oscillates during a major part of its lifetime between the states of hydrogen plasma opaque and transparent in the Balmer continuum. We find that at the peaks of oscillations the color tracks drift into the regions of color-color diagrams corresponding to a blackbody radiation, which provides an estimate of color temperatures from 17 000 to 22 000 K. We also find that flares cover ∼1% of the stellar disc.

Lithium in the atmosphere of a F or G supergiant reflects the initial Li abundance and the internal history of the star. During evolution of a star from the main sequence (MS) to the supergiant phase, lithium may be destroyed by, for example, rotationally induced mixing in the MS stars and strongly diluted by development of the supergiant's convective envelope. In order to probe the connection between atmospheric Li abundance and evolutionary predictions, we present a non‐local thermodynamic equilibrium abundance analysis of the resonance doublet Li i at 6707.8 Å for 55 Galactic F and G supergiants and bright giants (we observed 43 of them, the remaining 12 are added from Luck and Wepfer's list). The derived lithium abundances log ε(Li) may be considered in three groups, namely: (i) 10 Li‐rich giants with log ε(Li) = 2.0–3.2 (all 10 are F‐type or A9 stars); (ii) 13 G‐ to K0‐type stars with Li abundances in the narrow range log ε(Li) = 1.1–1.8; (iii) all other stars provide just upper limits to the Li abundance. The derived Li abundances are compared with theoretical predictions of 2–15 M⊙ stars (both rotating and non‐rotating). Our results are generally in good agreement with theory. In particular, the absence of detectable lithium for the majority of programme stars is explainable. The comparison suggests that the stars may be separated by mass M into two groups, namely M ≲ 6 M⊙ and M > 6 M⊙. All Li‐rich giants and supergiants with log ε(Li) ≥ 2.0 have masses M < 6 M⊙; this conclusion follows not only from our work but also from a scrutiny of published data. 11 of 13 stars with log ε(Li) = 1.1–1.8, specifically the stars with M < 6 M⊙, show good agreement with the post‐first dredge‐up surface abundance log ε(Li) ≈ 1.4 predicted for the non‐rotating 2–6 M⊙ stellar models. An absence of Li‐rich stars in the range M > 6 M⊙ agrees with the theoretical prediction that F and G supergiants and giants with M > 6 M⊙ cannot show detectable lithium. We note that present theory appears unable to account for the derived Li abundances for some stars, namely for (i) a few relatively low‐mass Li‐rich giants (M < 6 M⊙), whose high Li abundances accompanied by rather high rotational velocities or substantial nitrogen excess contradict theoretical predictions; (ii) the relatively high‐mass supergiants HR 461 and HR 8313 (M > 6 M⊙) with the detected abundances log ε = 1.3–1.5. It is possible that the lithium in such stars was synthesized recently.

Context. We report results from lithium abundance determinations using high resolution spectral analysis of the 107 metal-rich stars from the Calan-Hertfordshire Extrasolar Planet Search programme. Aims. We aim to set out to understand the lithium distribution of the population of stars taken from this survey. Methods. The lithium abundance taking account of non-local thermodynamical equilibrium effects was determined from the fits to the Li I 6708 Å resonance doublet profiles in the observed spectra. Results. We find that a) fast rotators tend to have higher lithium abundances; b) log N(Li) is higher in more massive and hot stars; c) log N(Li) is higher in stars of lower log g; d) stars with the metallicities >0.25 dex do not show the lithium lines in their spectra; e) most of our planet hosts rotate slower; and f) a lower limit of lithium isotopic ratio is 7 Li/ 6 Li > 10 in the atmospheres of two stars with planets (SWP) and two non-SWP stars. Conclusions. Measurable lithium abundances were found in the atmospheres of 45 stars located at distances of 20−170 pc from the Sun, for the other 62 stars the upper limits of log N(Li) were computed. We found well defined dependences of lithium abundances on T eff , V sin i, and less pronounced for the log g. In case of V sin i we see two sequences of stars: with measurable lithium and with the upper limit of log N(Li). About 10% of our targets are known to host planets. Only two SWP have notable lithium abundances, so we found a lower proportion of stars with detectable Li among known planet hosts than among stars without planets. However, given the small sample size of our planet-host sample, our analysis does not show any statistically significant differences in the lithium abundance between SWP and stars without known planets.

International audienceThe behaviour of cool stars is largely governed by molecular absorptions in their outer atmospheres. At the temperatures involved (1000 -- 4000 K), the number of transitions involved can be vast. The underlying physics of the problem is outlined and the status attempts to address the demands of stellar models discussed. Progress on calculations of line lists for stellar models at UCL is described. Specific examples of involving water, HCN/HNC, C$_3$, H$_3^+$ and HDO are given. Outstanding needs are summarised

We present near-infrared spectroscopy of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi (RS Oph) obtained on several occasions after its latest outburst in 2006 February. The 1-5 μm spectra are dominated by the red giant, but the H I, He I and coronal lines present during the eruption are present in all our observations. From the fits of the computed infrared spectral energy distributions to the observed fluxes, we find T eff = 4200 ± 200 K for the red giant. The first overtone CO bands at 2.3 μm, formed in the atmosphere of the red giant, are variable. The spectra clearly exhibit an infrared excess due to dust emission longward of 5 μm; we estimate an effective temperature for the emitting dust shell of 500 K, and find that the dust emission is also variable, being beyond the limit of detection in 2007. Most likely, the secondary star in RS Oph is intrinsically variable.