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Abstract. We obtained N-band observations of the Apollo asteroid 2002 NY40 during its close Earth fly-by in August 2002with TIMMI2 at the ESO 3.6 m telescope. The photometric measurement allowed us to derive a radiometric diameter of 0.28 ± 0.03 km and an albedo of 0.34 ± 0.06 through the near-Earth asteroid thermal model (NEATM) and a thermophysical model (TPM). The values are in agreement with results from radar data, visual and near-IR observations. In this first comparison between these two model approaches we found that the empirical NEATM beaming parameter η = 1.0 corresponds to a thermal inertia values of about 100 J m −2 s −0.5 K −1 for a typical range of surface roughness, assuming an equator-on viewing angle. Our TPM analysis indicated that the surface of 2002 NY40 consists of rocky material with a thin or no dust regolith. The asteroid very likely has a prograde sense of rotation with a cold terminator at the time of our observations. Although both model approaches can fit the thermal spectra taken at phase angles of 22• and 59• , we did not find a consistent model solution that describes all pieces of photometric and spectroscopic data. In addition to the 2002 NY40 analysis, we discuss the possibilities to distinguish between different models with only very few photometric and/or spectroscopic measurements spread over a range of phase angles.

We present new mid-infrared spectra of 15 targets (1 FU Orionis object, 4 Herbig Ae stars, 5 T Tauri stars, and 5 Vega-type stars), obtained with the TIMMI2 camera at La Silla Observatory (ESO). Three targets are members of the β Pic moving group (HD 155 555, HD 181 296, and HD 319 139). PAH bands are observed towards the T Tauri star HD 34 700 and the Herbig Ae star PDS 144 N. For HD 34 700, the band profiles indicate processed PAHs. The spectrum of the Vega-type object η Corvi (HD 109 085), for which a resolved disk at sub-mm wavelengths is known, appears stellar between 8-13 μm, but a small excess emission was reported by Spitzer observations. Similarly, no indication of circumstellar matter at mid-infrared wavelengths is found towards the Vega-like stars HD 3003, HD 80 951, HD 181 296, and, surprisingly, the T Tauri system HD 155 555. The silicate emission features of the remaining eight sources are modelled with a mixture of silicates of different grain sizes and composition. Unprocessed dust dominates FU Ori, HD 143 006, and CD-43 344. Large amorphous grains are the main dust component around HD 190 073, HD 319 139, KK Oph, and PDS 144 S. Both small grains and crystalline dust is found for the Vega-type HD 123 356, with a dominance of small amorphous grains. We show that the infrared emission of the binary HD 123 356 is dominated by its late-type secondary, but optical spectroscopy is still required to confirm the age of the system and the spectral class of the companion. For most targets, this is their first mid-infrared spectroscopic observation. We investigate trends between stellar, disk, and silicate properties and confirm correlations identified in previous studies. Several objects present an exciting potential for follow-up high-resolution disk studies.

Context. About 500 new variable stars enter the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) every year. Most of them however lack spectroscopic observations, which remains critical for a correct assignement of the variability type and for the understanding of the object. Aims. The Variable Star One-shot Project (VSOP) is aimed at (1) providing the variability type and spectral type of all unstudied variable stars, (2) process, publish, and make the data available as automatically as possible, and (3) generate serendipitous discoveries. This first paper describes the project itself, the acquisition of the data, the dataflow, the spectroscopic analysis and the on-line availability of the fully calibrated and reduced data. We also present the results on the 221 stars observed during the first semester of the project. Methods. We used the high-resolution echelle spectrographs HARPS and FEROS in the ESO La Silla Observatory (Chile) to survey known variable stars. Once reduced by the dedicated pipelines, the radial velocities are determined from cross correlation with synthetic template spectra, and the spectral types are determined by an automatic minimum distance matching to synthetic spectra, with traditional manual spectral typing cross-checks. The variability types are determined by manually evaluating the available light curves and the spectroscopy. In the future, a new automatic classifier, currently being developed by members of the VSOP team, based on these spectroscopic data and on the photometric classifier developed for the COROT and Gaia space missions, will be used. Results. We confirm or revise spectral types of 221 variable stars from the GCVS. We identify 26 previously unknown multiple systems, among them several visual binaries with spectroscopic binary individual components. We present new individual results for the multiple systems V349 Vel and BC Gru, for the composite spectrum star V4385 Sgr, for the T Tauri star V1045 Sco, and for DM Boo which we re-classify as a BY Draconis variable. The complete data release can be accessed via the VSOP web site.

Abstract. We present results of a coronographic imaging search for circumstellar dust disks with the Adaptive Optics Near Infrared System (ADONIS) at the ESO 3.6 m telescope in La Silla (Chile). 22 candidate stars, known to be orbited by a planet or to show infrared excess radiation, were examined for circumstellar material. In the PSF-subtracted images no clear disk was found. We further determine the detection sensitivities and outline how remaining atmospheric fluctuations still can hamper adaptive optics observations.