We discuss the role that dwarf galaxies may have played in the formation of the Galactic halo (Halo) using RR Lyrae stars (RRL) as tracers of their ancient stellar component. The comparison is performed using two observables (periods, luminosity amplitudes) that are reddening and distance independent. Fundamental mode RRL in 6 dwarf spheroidals

We present an optical to submillimetre multiwavelength study of two very low-luminosity Class I/flat systems, Mayrit 1701117 and Mayrit 1082188, in the σ Orionis cluster. We performed moderate-resolution (R ˜ 1000) optical (˜0.4-0.9 μm) spectroscopy with the Cassegrain Twin Spectrograph (TWIN) spectrograph at the Calar Alto 3.5-m telescope. The

We present an optical through sub-millimetre multi-wavelength study of two very low-luminosity Class I/Flat systems, Mayrit 1701117 and Mayrit 1082188, in the sigma Orionis cluster. We performed moderate resolution (R 1000) optical ( 0.4-0.9mu) spectroscopy with the TWIN spectrograph at the Calar Alto 3.5-m telescope. The spectra for both sources

The Apache Point Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) has obtained high resolution (R~22,500) near-infrared spectra of over 100,000 stars, including a subset of ~4000 low-mass dwarfs with estimated effective temperatures of 3500 K Teff 4200 K. We use data from standard stars to confirm the accuracy of APOGEE parameters for these stars, which

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will search for planets transiting bright and nearby stars. TESS has been selected by NASA for launch in 2017 as an Astrophysics Explorer mission. The spacecraft will be placed into a highly elliptical 13.7-day orbit around the Earth. During its 2-year mission, TESS will employ four wide-field

Context. Stars that have evolved off the main sequence are crucial for expanding the frontiers of knowledge on exoplanets toward higher stellar masses and for constraining star-planet interaction mechanisms. These stars have an intrinsic activity, however, which complicates the interpretation of precise radial velocity (RV) measurements, and