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Observing Log

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Competitively Obtained Telescope Time (As PI, since 2015)

    [2016-A] Argentina:

  • Project: "Spectroscopic survey of QSOs variables"
  • PI: J. G. Fernandez-Trincado (Observatory of Besancon, Francia)
  • CoI: XXXX
  • Spectroscopy, 2m Casleo telescope : XX nights

    [2015-A] National Astronomical Observatory of Venezuela (NAOV):

  • Project: "Studying the kinematics properties of extra-planar gaseous structures in the Milky way: Variability survey of QSOs in low and hight galactic latitude"
  • PI: J. G. Fernandez-Trincado (Observatory of Besancon, Francia)
  • CoI: Katherine Vieira (Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomia, Venezuela)
  • Photometry, 1m Reflector telescope : 40 nights
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Competitively Obtained Telescope Time (As Co-I, since 2013)

    [2015A-0117] Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO):

  • Project: "Where is the debris of the progenitor galaxy of ω Cen?"
  • PI: Kathy Vivas (CTIO/NOAO, Chile)
  • CoI: J. G. Fernandez-Trincado (Observatory of Besancon, Francia); Marcio Catelan (Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Chile) and Gabriel Torrealba (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Spectroscopy, SOAR telescope : 3 nights

    Abstract: The origin of the globular cluster \omega Cen and its role in the assembly of the galactic halo is still not well understood. It has been proposed that the cluster is indeed a nucleated dwarf galaxy that was tidally disrupted when it merged with the first generation of the Galactic thin disk. While debris from \omega Cen has been found in the solar neighborhood, the search for the remains of the disrupted galaxy near the cluster itself has been more elusive. Here we propose to measure radial velocities from SOAR/Goodman spectroscopy of 49 RR Lyrae stars that have been found in an area of ~ 100 sq degrees around the cluster by the QUEST and Catalina photometric surveys. Our targets were chosen to have a similar distance (+/- a few kpc) as the globular cluster. By combining accurate distances and velocities we will be able to identify any possible cold substructure in the region, if it exists. Even a negative results will provide strong constraints on the origin of this peculiar object.

    [2013-A] Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO) / Programs Awarded Time by Yale TAC:

  • Project: The Remains of the Dwarf Galaxy Associated with Omega Centauri
  • PI: R. Zinn (Yale University, USA)
  • CoI: K. Vivas (CIDA, Venezuela) and J. G. Fernandez-Trincado (CIDA/ULA, Venezuela)
  • Spectroscopy, R-C Spectrograph at the 1.5m Telescope operated by the SMARTS: 3 nights
  • Associated article

    Abstract: We propose to obtain follow-up spectra of 13 RR Lyrae stars recently discovered with the QUEST camera at the 1m Schmidt telescope at the Venezuelan National Observatory. These stars lie within ∼ 10 ◦ from the center of the globular cluster ωCen, and they have the same magnitude as its horizontal branch. Thus, they are strong candidates to be material stripped from the cluster or from the disrupted galaxy associated with it. Radial velocities will allow us to confirm a physical association with the cluster and can provide constrains in the models of the destruction of ωCen by the tidal forces of the Milky Way.