Since the launch of the Fermi satellite, BL Lacertae has been moderately active at γrays and optical frequencies until May 2011, when the source started a series of strong flares. The exceptional optical sampling achieved by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) in collaboration with the Steward Observatory allows us to perform a detailed comparison with the daily γ-ray observations by Fermi. Discrete correlation analysis between the optical and γ-ray emission reveals correlation with a time lag of 0 ± 1 d, which suggests cospatiality of the corresponding jet emitting regions. A better definition of the time lag is hindered by the daily gaps in the sampling of the extremely fast flux variations. In general, optical flares present more structure and develop on longer time scales than corresponding γ-ray flares. Observations at X-rays and at millimetre wavelengths reveal a common trend, which suggests that the region producing the mm and X-ray radiation is located downstream from the optical and γ-ray-emitting zone in the jet. The mean optical degree of polarisation slightly decreases over the considered period and in general it is higher when the flux is lower. The optical electric vector polarisation angle (EVPA) shows a preferred orientation of about 15 • , nearly aligned with the radio core EVPA and mean jet direction. Oscillations around it increase during the 2011-2012 outburst. We investigate the effects of a geometrical interpretation of the long-term flux variability on the polarisation. A helical magnetic field model predicts an evolution of the mean polarisation that is in reasonable agreement with the observations. These can be fully explained by introducing slight variations in the compression factor in a transverse shock waves model.

Aims. We present results from optical photometric and spectroscopic observations of the eruptive pre-main sequence star V582 Aur. Variability of the star was reported a few years ago when it was suspected as a possible FU Orionis object. Due to the small number of currently known FUors, a new object of this type is ideal target for follow-up photometric and spectroscopic observations. Methods. We carried out BVRI CCD photometric observations in the field of V582 Aur from 2009 August to 2013 February. We acquired high-, medium-, and low-resolution spectroscopy of V582 Aur during this period. To study the pre-outburst variability of the target and construct its historical light curve, we searched for archival observations in photographic plate collections. Both CCD and photographic observations were analyzed using a sequence of 14 stars in the field of V582 Aur calibrated in BVRI. Results. The pre-outburst photographic observations of V582 Aur show low-amplitude light variations typical of T Tauri stars. Archival photographic observations indicate that the increase in brightness began in late 1984 or early 1985 and the star reached the maximum level of brightness at 1986 January. The spectral type of V582 Aur can be defined as G0I with strong P Cyg profiles of Hα and Na I D lines, which are typical of FU Orionis objects. Our BVRI photometric observations show large amplitude variations (ΔV ∼ 2. m 8) during the 3.5 year period of observations. Most of the time, however, the star remains in a state close to the maximum brightness. The deepest drop in brightness was observed in the spring of 2012, when the brightness of the star fell to a level close to the pre-outburst. The multicolor photometric data show a color reversal during the minimum in brightness, which is typical of UX Ori variables. The corresponding spectral observations show strong variability in the profiles and intensities of the spectral lines (especially Hα), which indicate significant changes in the accretion rate. On the basis of photometric monitoring performed over the past three years, the spectral properties of the maximal light, and the shape of the long-term light curve, we confirm the affiliation of V582 Aur to the group of FU Orionis objects.

We have measured multiband optical flux and colour variations for a sample of 12 low-energy peaked blazars (LBLs) on short, day-to-month, time-scales. Our sample contains six BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs) and six flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs). These photometric observations, made during 2008 September to 2009 June, used five optical telescopes, one in India and four in Bulgaria. We detected short-term flux variations in 11 of these blazars and colour variability in eight of them. Our data indicate that six blazars (3C 66A, AO 0235+164, S5 0716+714, PKS 0735+178, OJ 287 and 3C 454.3) were observed in pre-or post-outburst states, five (PKS 0420−014, 4C 29.45, 3C 279, PKS 1510−089 and BL Lac) were in a low state, while one (3C 273) was in an essentially steady state. The duty cycles for flux and colour variations on short time-scales in these LBLs are ∼92 and ∼33 per cent, respectively. The colour versus magnitude correlations seen here support the hypothesis that BL Lac objects tend to become bluer with increase in brightness; however, FSRQs may show the opposite trend, and there are exceptions to these trends in both categories of blazar. We briefly discuss emission models for active galactic nuclei that might explain our results.

We report 138 spectral observations of the Hα emission line of the radio-and γ-ray-emitting Be/X-ray binary LSI+61• 303 obtained during the period of September 1998 -January 2013. From measuring various Hα parameters, we found that the orbital modulation of the Hα is best visible in the equivalent width ratio EW(B)/EW(R), the equivalent width of the blue hump, and in the radial velocity of the central dip. The periodogram analysis confirmed that the Hα emission is modulated with the orbital and superorbital periods. For the past 20 years the radius of the circumstellar disk is similar to the Roche lobe size at the periastron. It is probably truncated by a 6:1 resonance. The orbital maximum of the equivalent width of Hα emission peaks after the periastron and coincides on average with the X-ray and γ-ray maxima. All the spectra are available upon request from the authors and through the CDS.

We report optical spectroscopic observations of the Be/γ-ray binaries LSI+61303, MWC 148 and MWC 656. The peak separation and equivalent widths of prominent emission lines (Hα, Hβ, Hγ, HeI, and FeII) are measured. We estimated the circumstellar disc size, compared it with separation between the components, and discussed the disc truncation. We find that in LSI+61• 303 the compact object comes into contact with the outer parts of the circumstellar disc at periastron, in MWC 148 the compact object goes deeply into the disc during the periastron passage, and in MWC 656 the black hole is accreting from the outer parts of the circumstellar disc along the entire orbit. The interstellar extinction was estimated using interstellar lines. The rotation of the mass donors appears to be similar to the rotation of the mass donors in Be/X-ray binaries. We suggest that X-ray/optical periodicity ∼1 day deserves to be searched for.