Supernovae of type II (SN II) are found to exhibit a correlation (r = 0.45 ± 0.15) between M(max) and parent galaxy luminosity. This correlation might be understood by assuming that the metal-rich red supergiant progenitors of SN II in luminous galaxies have more extended photospheres than do those of the more metal-deficient evolved progenitors of SN II on low-luminosity galaxies. For h = 0.5 it is found that SN 1987A was ∼1.5 mag fainter at maximum in blue light than any other well-observed SN II. For h = 1.0 SN 1948B, SN 1973R, SN 1972Q and SN 1987A exhibit comparable MB(max). It would be important to undertake systematic searches for sub-luminous SN II in dwarf galaxies and in the metal-poor extreme outer regions of giant- and supergiant spirals.

A search has been made using the Buckland Park air shower array for evidence of any excess of events from the direction of the recent supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Upper limits resulting from this search and their significance are discussed in this paper.

Observations have been made, using the Epping 4-m radio telescope, of emission from the J = 1-0 transition of CO (115 GHz) towards the Southern Coalsack. The half-power beam-width was 2′.7 arc and the radial velocity resolution was 0.07 km s−1. The line was found to be distributed with varying intensity over an area of 63′ × 36′ arc. The mean radial velocity was −5.8 km s−1 and mean half-intensity linewidth 1.18 km s-1. A typical line temperature was 8 K with maxima exceeding 12 K. The results suggest a stable dark cloud region with no significant evidence of systematic motions.

Evolutionary calculations have been made for a star of initial mass 17.5 M⊙ in order to emulate the evolution of the precursor of SN1987A. The results give good agreement (i) with the observed properties of Sanduleak -69°202 (star 1) when the model reaches the supernova epoch, and (ii) with the observed distribution of red and blue supergiants in the LMC. Mass loss throughout the life of the star at rates reasonably consistent with observed values is required to produce these results. At the time of explosion, the supernova has a mass of only ∼ 5.4 M⊙ and it is surrounded by about 8 M⊙ of wind material in a shell of ∼0.4 pc radius.

Spectrophotometric optical fluxes of SN 1987A have been measured at high accuracy with the 61cm telescope equipped with a rapid spectrum scanner. This highly homogeneous data set covers the wavelength range 3200-8700Å at 10Å resolution. Selected wavelength regions, e.g. around Hα, have also been measured at 3Å resolution. The Hα line shows an undisturbed P Cygni-type profile until March 15, superimposed by variable fine-structure thereafter, developing within a few days into a blue-shifted, peak-like flux excess and a red-shifted flux deficiency. This fine-structure is intrinsic to Hα. Similar fine-structure is also observed in Na I-D, in Paschen-α and possibly in Hβ. We discuss our observations in terms of the ‘mystery spot’, and of models involving a jet and interactions with surrounding pre-existing material, and we propose density inhomogeneities, or occupation number deficits due to NLTE effects, within the inner regions of the envelope as origin.

The design and scientific applications of a 96-channel filter spectrograph of 1 MHz resolution are presented. The spectrograph is currently under construction and will be installed on the Parkes telescope in 1987-1988. Its main scientific objective is dynamic spectral studies of decimetre- and metre-wavelength bursts from flare stars. However, it will also be used for performing large-scale pulsar surveys, and dynamic spectral observations of interplanetary scintillation of compact sources, interstellar scintillation of compact extragalactic sources, and interesting radio sources in general.

We show that plasma emission generated in the coronae of flare stars should be detectable at metre- and decimetre-wavelengths. We plan to search for fundamental and second-harmonic plasma radiation by observing in two harmonically related bands, 200 to 250 MHz and 400 to 500 MHz. With noise-adding to stabilize receiver gain, the sensitivity (3σ) of each channel of the spectrograph is ∼ 1.5 Jy for a 1-s integration. Previous studies have reported peak flux densities of up to ∼ 35 Jy and ∼ 12 Jy at 240 MHz and 410 MHz respectively for radio bursts from flare stars.

The concept of a national centre for the analysis of archival and contemporary space astronomy data has been identified as a highly desirable objective by the Australian astronomical community for a number of years. With the approaching launch of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the time is now appropriate to actively pursue this objective. HST will generate a data archive of unique astrophysical significance over the course of the ≥ 20 year mission. It is essential that Australian astronomers have efficient access to this resource, both to maintain our position at the forefront of astronomical research, and to complement our major ground-based facilities (particularly the AAT and the Australia Telescope). An Australian facility would provide efficient access to HST data and also to the analysis tools and expertise necessary for utilizing the data. Archival data from other NASA and ESA missions could also be supported, and in the longer term, the facility could become the science centre for the Lyman/Quasat missions.

This paper presents the case for an Australian Space Astronomy Data Centre, reviews the astronomy missions of relevance, and addresses the role, scope and implementation timescale of the facility. Preliminary estimates are given for the resources that will be required, and possible routes for funding the centre are outlined. Above all, the report is intended as a Discussion Paper to promote further consideration of the concept and of the service that could be provided to the Australian astronomical community.

High quality near-infrared (1-5 μm) spectra of SN 1987A have been obtained at MSSSO, AAO, ESO, CTIO and SAAO with good temporal coverage. These near-infrared observations are reviewed with particular reference to spectra obtained by the MSSSO group on the ANU 2.3m telescope at Siding Spring Observatory.

The edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 5793 has been observed at frequencies of 4860 and 14940 MHz with the Very Large Array. The corresponding half-intensity beamwidths in the final maps were 0.65 × 0.40 and 0.19 × 0.11 arcsec2. The maps show a continuum source close to the optical nucleus with dimensions of ≤0.01 and 0.04 arcsec in right ascension and declination. The average spectral index is –0.6.

Mid-infrared spectroscopic data on SN 1987A are reviewed. This spectral region contains the fine structure lines of a number of ions, incuding the iron group elements, together with recombination lines of hydrogen and helium. From about 9 months all these lines and the continuum have been effectively optically thin, and the [CoII] line strength and development yields an estimate of the parental 56Ni mass of 0.071 M⊙, very similar to the light curve estimates. At one year after the explosion the velocities appropriate to the hydrogenic and ionic regions are ∼ 2000 km s−1 and ∼ 1500 km s−1, respectively.

Apart from an excess between 8–9 μm which appears to be due to molecular SiO, there is no evidence of departure of the continuum from free-free emission, and no sign of any emission from dust. From the free-free continuum an ionization fraction of a few percent is derived for the hydrogen/helium envelope; this provides relative transparency in the mid infrared while the bound electrons provide the X and γ-ray opacity which is still considerable at 15 months.

The appearance of neutral ions at 15 months indicates that the ejecta temperatures are cooling, and that dust formation may be imminent.

The literature contains numerous predictions of an X-ray pulse associated with the emergence of the shock-wave at the surface of a star undergoing a supernova explosion. Applied to supernova 1987a, these suggest a small, solar-flare like event lasting about a minute with a terrestrial flux of order 1 μWm-2 and a black-body temperature between 106K and 107K occurring between 0900 and 1000 UT on February 23, 1987. Unfortunately, no direct X-ray observations appear to have been made. However, such an event would be expected to give rise to an observable enhancement of ionization in the upper D-region of the ionosphere. The absence of a detectable perturbation in VLF radio signals propagating in the earth-ionosphere waveguide sets upper limits to the X-ray flux and temperature below those predicted.

The structure of the radio source 1308-441 has been determined with the Molonglo and Fleurs radio telescopes. The nuclear component has been identified with a magnitude 15 galaxy and an optical spectrum, obtained with the Anglo-Australian Telescope shows galactic absorption features with a redshift of 0.0515 but no emission lines. The radio image shows the nuclear component linked by a well defined bridge to diffuse lobes extending for 11 arcmin west and 6 arcmin east. The asymmetry is believed to be due to projection effects. The projected size is 670 kpc (Ho = 100 km s-1 Mpc-1). The bridge contains several peaks with one strong unresolved peak 90 kpc from the galaxy.

The extremely rare occurrence of a relatively nearby supernova, SN 1987A, provides astronomers with a unique opportunity to conduct the most detailed multi-wavelength analysis of this event and its effect on the ambient medium. Looking inside the supernova, astronomers are getting their first ‘unbiased’ view of the composition of the expanding ejecta. The infrared (IR) region of the spectrum can carry the signature of products ranging from heavy elements, synthesised during the early phases of the expansion, to molecules and dust formed after the ejecta underwent significant cooling. Probing the ambient medium, IR observers can gain information on the presence and distribution of dust in close proximity (∼1 pc) to the supernova (SN), and on the interaction of the SN blast wave with the surrounding dusty medium. At larger distances from the SN, they can set constraints on dust properties in the scattering dust layers detected at distances of ∼120 and ∼330 pc from the supernova.

On July 14, 1982 a Forbush decrease event of unprecedented magnitude was observed worldwide in the cosmic ray records up to particle rigidities of several hundred GV. At the same time the recently commissioned underground proportional counter telescope at Mawson, Antarctica, was recording a newly discovered cosmic ray modulation superposed on the Forbush event (Duldig, Jacklyn and Pomerantz 1985; Jacklyn, Duldig and Pomerantz 1987). The presence of the two phenomena led to complication in deriving the spectrum of the Forbush decrease for particle rigidities corresponding to the shallow observing depth. A technique for resolving such difficulties is presented and applied to the July 1982 decrease and the recurrence event 27 days later. The resulting spectral index γ was found to be ≈ −0.9, similar to the results of the extensive analysis of Russian surface and underground data by Kuzmin et al. (1983).

SN 1987A is sufficiently close to allow a unique examination of the morphology of a supernova, using speckle interferometry. Several groups [Center for Astrophysics (CfA); Imperial College (IC); Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories/Anglo-Australian Observatory (M/A)] have reported optical speckle observations. At Hα, both CfA and M/A have determined the angular extent of the emission, and reasonable agreement is obtained. The speckle-derived values are consistent with those obtained from line profiles. IC has also succeeded in resolving the supernova at Hα. At wavelengths other than Hα, at early epochs, angular diameters obtained by CfA are larger than those derived from photometric and spectroscopic measurements, possibly due to scattering effects. At later epochs, the diameters exhibit little variation between the wavelengths examined. CfA reports significant asymmetry in the late epoch data.

Several attempts have been made to re-observe (at optical wavelengths) the companion object, but none have succeeded. The nature of this phenomenon is still controversial, but the evidence indicates that the companion was real, with emission from dust apparently being the least problematic explanation. Support for this may lie in IR speckle observations (Haute Provence/Lyon) which, on about day 115, indicated the presence of one or more resolved components at an angular displacement comparable to that of the optical companion.

My lecture this evening is dedicated to my late friend and fellow astronomer, Harley Wood, who died on 26 June 1984 at the age of 72. It is a fine thing that the ASA has decided to give the name of Harley Wood to an annual public lecture at the time of the society’s Annual General Meeting. For besides making a monumental contribution to the astrometry of the southern skies, Harley became a leader, a kind of organizer and father figure, among Australian astronomers. He played a leading part in the formation of this society and was its foundation President. He will also be specially remembered by a small group of us, about half a dozen, who met regularly in the charming old building of Sydney Observatory to plan the 1973 IAU General Assembly held in Sydney, the first time ever in Australia. Harley chaired not only the local organizing committee, but the ladies’ committee too. My wife still recalls the gentle, but firm way in which Harley once admonished her for addressing a remark across the table without going through the Chair. Harley was totally approachable and totally positive at all times: you could always count on his support for any sensible initiative. He had many friends and no enemies that I have heard of. And unlike so many of his profession, there was no hint of the egotist or the prima donna. I count it a privilege to have been his contemporary and colleague.

We report on the identifications of 15 new X-ray selected Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). The AGN have been discovered during an ongoing program to identify and study the optical counterparts of X-ray sources detected by the HEAO-1 satellite. The new AGN add to our existing data base of 26 making a sample of 41 objects which are the subject of a multiwavelength study including radio, infrared, optical, UV and X-ray observations. As part of this study 8.4 GHz flux measurements have been made at Parkes. Radio-optical-X-ray continuum spectral index comparisons are presented.

Daily rainfall data for Sydney, Prague and Moscow for singularities around 26 May and 9 November were examined by an autocorrelation method. Intervals between 2 and 7 days were used for the autocorrelation. In all three samples the wider the interval used the later the date of the best autocorrelation. The shift is discussed from the point of view of the Bowen hypothesis on meteor-rainfall correlation. Also new results supporting the Bowen hypothesis and its new version on bacteria from space, published recently, are briefly discussed.

Results of the observations of SN 1987A from Ginga are presented. The first detection of X-rays from the SN 1987A was July, 1987. The energy spectrum is quite unnusual for any of the known classes of X-ray sources, and apparently consists of two seperate components; a soft and a hard component. The soft component is significantly time-variable, and also showed a flarelike increase in January, 1988. Whereas, the intensity of the hard component has remained fairly stationary for more than 300 days. The origins of the two components are also discussed.