Context. The ESO public survey VISTA variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) started in 2010. VVV targets 562 sq. deg in the Galactic bulge and an adjacent plane region and is expected to run for about five years. Aims. We describe the progress of the survey observations in the first observing season, the observing strategy, and quality of the data obtained. Methods. The observations are carried out on the 4-m VISTA telescope in the ZY JHK s filters. In addition to the multi-band imaging the variability monitoring campaign in the K s filter has started. Data reduction is carried out using the pipeline at the Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit. The photometric and astrometric calibration is performed via the numerous 2MASS sources observed in each pointing. Results. The first data release contains the aperture photometry and astrometric catalogues for 348 individual pointings in the ZY JHK s filters taken in the 2010 observing season. The typical image quality is ∼0. 9−1. 0. The stringent photometric and image quality requirements of the survey are satisfied in 100% of the JHK s images in the disk area and 90% of the JHK s images in the bulge area. The completeness in the Z and Y images is 84% in the disk, and 40% in the bulge. The first season catalogues contain 1.28 × 10 8 stellar sources in the bulge and 1.68 × 10 8 in the disk area detected in at least one of the photometric bands. The combined, multi-band catalogues contain more than 1.63 × 10 8 stellar sources. About 10% of these are double detections because of overlapping adjacent pointings. These overlapping multiple detections are used to characterise the quality of the data. The images in the JHK s bands extend typically ∼4 mag deeper than 2MASS. The magnitude limit and photometric quality depend strongly on crowding in the inner Galactic regions. The astrometry for K s = 15−18 mag has rms ∼ 35−175 mas. Conclusions. The VVV Survey data products offer a unique dataset to map the stellar populations in the Galactic bulge and the adjacent plane and provide an exciting new tool for the study of the structure, content, and star-formation history of our Galaxy, as well as for investigations of the newly discovered star clusters, star-forming regions in the disk, high proper motion stars, asteroids, planetary nebulae, and other interesting objects.

Planetary nebulae represent a potential late stage of stellar evolution, however, their central stars (CSPNe) are relatively faint and, therefore, pertinent information is available for merely < 20% of the Galactic sample. Consequently, the literature was surveyed to construct a new catalogue of 620 CSPNe featuring important spectral classifications and information. The catalogue supersedes the existing iteration by 25% and includes physical parameters such as luminosity, surface gravity, temperature, magnitude estimates, and references for published spectra. The marked statistical improvement enabled the following pertinent conclusions to be determined: the H-rich/H-poor ratio is 2:1, there is a deficiency of CSPNe with types [WC 5-6], and nearly 80% of binary central stars belong to the H-rich group. The last finding suggests that evolutionary scenarios leading to the formation of binary central stars interfere with the conditions required for the formation of H-poor CSPN. Approximately 50% of the sample with derived values of log L⋆, log Teff, and log g, exhibit masses and ages consistent with single stellar evolutionary models. The implication is that single stars are indeed able to form planetary nebulae. Moreover, it is shown that H-poor CSPNe are formed by higher mass progenitors. The catalogue is available through the Vizier database.

Context. There are more than 3000 confirmed and probable known Galactic planetary nebulae (PNe), but central star spectroscopic information is available for only 13% of them. Aims. We undertook a spectroscopic survey of central stars of PNe at low resolution and compiled a large list of central stars for which information was dispersed in the literature. Methods. We observed 45 PNs using the 2.15 m telescope at Casleo, Argentina.Results. We present a catalogue of 492 confirmed and probable CSPN and provide a preliminary spectral classification for 45 central star of PNe. This revises previous values of the proportion of CSPN with atmospheres poor in hydrogen in at least 30% of cases and provide statistical information that allows us to infer the origin of H-poor stars.

We perform a multiwavelength study toward the SNR G18.1-0.1 and nearby several HII regions (infrared dust bubbles N21 and N22, and the HII regions G018. 149-00.283 and G18.197-00.181). Our goal is to provide observational evidence supporting that massive stars usually born in clusters from the same molecular cloud, which then produce, along their evolution, different neighboring objects such as HII regions, interstellar bubbles and supernova remnants. We suggest that the objects analysed in this work belong to a same complex located at the distance of about 4 kpc. Using molecular data we inspected the interstellar medium toward this complex and from optical and X-ray observations we looked for OB-type stars in the region. Analysing public 13 CO J=1-0 data we found several molecular structures very likely related to the HII region/SNR complex. We suggest that the molecular gas is very likely being swept and shaped by the expansion of the HII regions. From spectroscopic optical observations obtained with the 2.15 m telescope at CASLEO, Argentina, we discovered three O-type stars very likely exciting the bubbles N21 and N22, and an uncatalogued HII region northward bubble N22, respectively. Also we found four B0-5 stars, one toward the bubble N22 and the others within the HII region G18.149-0.283. By inspecting the Chandra Source Catalog we found two point X-ray sources and we suggest that one of them is an early O-type star. Finally we inspected the large scale interstellar medium around this region. We discovered a big molecular shell of about 70 pc × 28 pc in which the analysed complex appears to be located in its southern border.

Context. Many active galactic nuclei (AGN) and particularly narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies, usually exhibit blueshifts and blue wings in several emission lines, which are mainly associated with outflows and strong winds. Although there is no clear evidence of the physical origin of the [OIII] blue wings, it has been suggested that they could be emitted from the inner parts of the narrow-line region (NLR). Aims. In order to study the radial velocity difference between the narrow component of Hβ and the core component of [OIII]λ5007 and the asymmetric emission of this forbidden line, we investigate a sample of NLS1 galaxies . One of the aims of this paper is to analyze the blue wings of the [OIII]λ5007 profiles and their relation with the central engine. Methods. We have obtained and studied medium-resolution spectra (190 km s −1 FWHM at Hβ) of a sample of 28 NLS1 galaxies in the optical range 4300 -5200Å. We performed Gaussian decomposition to the Hβ and [OIII]λλ4959,5007 emission profiles in order to study the distinct components of these lines. Results. A new blue outlier galaxy is found, in which the center of the core component of [OIII] is blueshifted by 405 km s −1 relative to the center of the narrow component of Hβ line. We confirmed a previously known correlation between the blueshift and the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the core component of [OIII]λ5007 line. We also corroborated the correlation between the latter and the velocity of the centroid of the blue wing. On the other hand, by studying the radial velocity difference between the blue end of the asymmetric emission and the centroid of the core component of [OIII], we found a correlation between it and the central black hole mass and, therefore, with the luminosity of the broad component of Hβ. Finally, we found a moderate correlation between the luminosity of the [OIII] blue wing and the black hole mass. Conclusions. These results suggest that the asymmetric emission of the [OIII] lines is related to the central engine, not only through the black hole but also in the intensity of the AGN, which is in agreement with previous results.

We analyze the spatial orientation of a homogenous sample of 440 elongated Planetary Nebulae (PNe) in order to determine the orientation of their apparent major axis respect to the Milky Way plane. We present some important geometrical and statistical considerations that have been overlooked by the previous works on the subject. The global distribution of galactic position angles (GPA) of PNe is quantitatively not very different from a random distribution of orientations in the Galaxy. Nevertheless we find that there is at least one region on the sky, toward the galactic center, where a weak correlation may exist between the orientation of the major axis of some PNe and the Galactic equator, with an excess of axes with GPA∼ 100 • . Therefore, we confirm that "extrinsic" phenomena (i.e., global galactic magnetic fields, shell compression from motion relative to the Interstellar Medium) do not determine the morphology of PNe on most of the sky, with a possible exception towards the galactic center.

Context. At least 492 central stars of Galactic planetary nebulae (CSPNs) have been assigned spectral types. Since many CSPNs are faint, these classification efforts are frequently made at low spectral resolution. However, the stellar Balmer absorption lines are contaminated with nebular emission; therefore in many cases a low-resolution spectrum does not enable the determination of the H abundance in the CSPN photosphere. Whether or not the photosphere is H deficient is arguably the most important fact we should expect to extract from the CSPN spectrum, and should be the basis for an adequate spectral classification system. Aims. Our purpose is to provide accurate spectral classifications and contribute to the knowledge of central stars of planetary nebulae and stellar evolution. Methods. We have obtained and studied higher quality spectra of CSPNs described in the literature as weak emission-line star (WELS). We provide descriptions of 19 CSPN spectra. These stars had been previously classified at low spectral resolution. We used medium-resolution spectra taken with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS). We provide spectral types in the Morgan-Keenan (MK) system whenever possible. Results. Twelve stars in our sample appear to have normal H rich photospheric abundances, and five stars remain unclassified. The rest (two) are most probably H deficient. Of all central stars described by other authors as WELS, we find that at least 26% of them are, in fact, H rich O stars, and at least 3% are H deficient. This supports the suggestion that the denomination WELS should not be taken as a spectral type, because, as a WELS is based on low-resolution spectra, it cannot provide enough information about the photospheric H abundance.

Context. There are more than 3000 known Galactic planetary nebulae (PNe), but only 492 central stars of Galactic planetary nebulae (CSPN) have known spectral types. It is vital to increase this number in order to have reliable statistics, which will lead to an increase of our understanding of these amazing objects. Aims. We aim to contribute to the knowledge of central stars of planetary nebulae and stellar evolution. Methods. This observational study is based on Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs (GMOS) and with the Intermediate Dispersion Spectrograph (IDS) at the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) spectra of 78 CSPN. The objects were selected because they did not have any previous classification, or the present classification is ambiguous. These new high quality spectra allowed us to identify the key stellar lines for determining spectral classification in the Morgan-Keenan (MK) system. Results. We have acquired optical spectra of a large sample of CSPN. From the observed targets, 50 are classified here for the first time while for 28 the existing classifications have been improved. In seven objects we have identified a P-Cygni profile at the He i lines. Six of these CSPN are late O-type. The vast majority of the stars in the sample exhibit an absorption-type spectrum, and in one case we have found wide emission lines typical of [WR] stars. We give a complementary, and preliminary, classification criterion to obtain the sub-type of the O(H)-type CSPN. Finally, we give a more realistic value of the proportion of CSPN that are rich or poor in hydrogen.