We observe Eris, one of the largest trans-Neptunian objects, in the 300 - 2480 nm range with X-Shooter, the first second-generation instrument for the ESOVery Large Telescope, and compare the newly obtained spectra with those available in the literature. The large spectra coverage and high resolving power ( / ' 5000) of X-Shooter allow us to study

High-resolution near-ultraviolet spectra of the yellow hypergiants HR 8752 and rho Cassiopeiae indicate high effective temperatures, placing both stars near the low-T_eff border of the ``yellow evolutionary void.'' At present, the temperature of HR 8752 is higher than ever. For this star we found T_eff=7900+/-200 K, whereas rho Cassiopeiae has T

We have measured the ^12^C/^13^C interstellar ratio in the Coalsack, a prominent dark nebula in the southern sky, by means of high resolution (λ/δλ=6x10^4^) observations of the λ4232A CH^+^ line in the direction of the star HD110432 (d=~0.31kpc). The collection of a total of 53 spectra of this star and of a reference bright star (α Vir) has allowed

Context: We present an extensive ground-based photometric and spectroscopic campaign of the γ Dor CoRoT target HD 49434. This campaign was a preparatory step of the CoRoT satellite observations, which occurred between October 2007 and March 2008. Aims: With satellite data, detection of low-degree pulsation modes only is achievable, and, as no

Ephemeral magnetic emergence has been detected in a decaying β region observed in December 2001 simultaneously with the DOT and THEMIS. We present here the main characteristics of this phenomenon. Also the time evolution of a small group of pores is shown together with the time evolution of an horizontal magnetic field overlying them.

Context: Solar-like oscillations have been observed in numerous red giants from ground and from space. An important question arises: could we expect to detect non-radial modes probing the internal structure of these stars? Aims: We investigate under what physical circumstances non-radial modes could be observable in red giants; what would be their