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Some Recent Investigations in Stellar Evolution at the Specola Vaticana

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The Vatican Observatory, Castel Gandolfo: 80th Anniversary Celebration

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings ((ASSSP,volume 51))

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Abstract

Studies in astronomy and stellar astrophysics have played a significant role in the ongoing research of the Specola Vaticana throughout its history. Within the last 150 years, this has been evidenced by the work of Angelo Secchi in the 19th century, by the Specola’s participation in the 19th–20th century Carte du Ciel project, and by the Observatory’s sponsorship of the prominent Vatican Conference on Stellar Populations in 1957. The latter was a milestone in the understanding of stellar populations. Since then, the astronomy community’s knowledge of stellar populations, especially with regard to the various components of the Milky Way Galaxy and other galaxies, along with globular and open clusters, has increased greatly, commensurate with the advent of more powerful telescopes. The Specola Vaticana continues to contribute actively to such astrophysical studies by research conducted on photometric surveys of portions of the Milky Way Galaxy and also by the study of extreme horizontal branch stars that are thought to be ubiquitous in most stellar populations.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Drs. Philipp Podsiadlowski, Zhanwen Han, and Sukyoung Yi for lending their expertise generously to various parts of research conducted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Specola Vaticana, V-00120, Città Del Vaticano, Holy See (Vatican City State)

    David Brown

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  1. David Brown
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Correspondence to David Brown .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vatican Observatory , Rome, Holy See (Vatican City State)

    Gabriele Gionti, S. J.

  2. Vatican Observatory , Rome, Holy See (Vatican City State)

    Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya Eluo, S.J.

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Brown, D. (2018). Some Recent Investigations in Stellar Evolution at the Specola Vaticana. In: Gionti, S. J., G., Kikwaya Eluo, S.J., JB. (eds) The Vatican Observatory, Castel Gandolfo: 80th Anniversary Celebration. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, vol 51. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67205-2_5

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