In this paper we analyse the measurements of the brightness of the night sky above the CMO SAI MSU in the visible and near-infrared range made in 2019–2014. In 2023–2024 the median zenith brightness of 1 arcsec ^2 of the moonless night sky was 21.31^m in the B band, 20.63^m in the V band, 20.15^m in the R_c band, and 19.11^m in the I_c band. In 5 years the sky brightness had increased by 0.7^m in B and V , by 0.45^m in R_c , and ∼0.1^m in I_c . We found that the brightness growth is mostly (up to ∼85% ) due to the increasing light pollution from nearby cities, while the remainder can be attributed to the increase of solar activity after the 2019 minimum. We discuss how the sky brightness is influenced by such factors as the airmass and the location of the Sun and the Moon in the sky. A qualitative analysis of the sky emission spectrum has demonstrated the growing role of LED lamps in light pollution. These changes in sky brightness which are only going to get harder favour observations that are less sensitive to the degree of light pollution—IR photometry and spectroscopy and high-resolution optical spectroscopy.

Results of the simulation of the dependence of the ‘‘red leak’’ magnitude of photometric filters on various factors during star observations are presented: the colour index V – R , luminosity class, magnitude of interstellar reddening, air mass, and precipitable water vapour in the Earth’s atmosphere. The error arising from the neglect of ‘‘red leak’’ in the case of filters used on the 0.6-m telescope of the SAI CMO can be up to 0.6^m – 0.8^m for stars of late spectral types. Algorithms for the reduction of observational data for the U and B filters are presented. The results of observations of the rapid variability of two symbiotic stars CH Cyg and SU Lyn with cold components of very late spectral types are provided. For CH Cyg, rapid variability was detected on both observation dates. Taking into account the ‘‘red leak’’ effect, the amplitude of brightness changes in the B band was 0.10 ^m on November 6, 2019 and 0.19 ^m on December 15, 2022, with a characteristic variability time of about 20 min. For SU Lyn, rapid brightness variability in the B band on February 25, 2023 was not detected (with an accuracy of up to 0.003 ^m ).

We present the results of a study of the dependence of the “red leak” of the filters U and B from the color index V - R of stars and the interstellar reddening. A comparison of filters with diherent red leak contributions is made. The error arising from the undercounting the red leak in the case of the U filter used on the 0.6-m telescope of the CMO SAI can be up to 0.6-0.8m for stars of late spectral types with large interstellar reddening. The results of observations of four red stars in the UBVRcIc bands and corrections to account for red leak are presented.

The results of photometric and spectral observations of T CrB obtained in a wide range of wavelengths in 2011-2023 are presented. We use the near-IR light curves to determine a new ephemeris $JD_{min} = 2455828.9 + 227.55 \times E$ for the times of light minima when the red giant is located between the observer and the hot component. The flux ratio H$\alpha$/H$\beta$ varied from $\sim 3$ to $\sim 8$ in 2020-2023, which may be due to a change in the flux ratio between the X-ray and optical ranges. It is shown that the value of H$\alpha$/H$\beta$ anticorrelates with the rate of accretion onto the hot component of the system. Based on high-speed follow-up observations obtained on June 8, 2023, we detected a variability of the HeII $\lambda 4686$ line with a characteristic time-scale of $\sim 25$ min, the amplitude of variability in the $B$-band was $\sim 0.07^m$. Simulations of the near-IR light curves accounting for the ellipsoidal effect allowed us to obtain the parameters of the binary system: the Roche lobe filling factor of the cool component $\mu=1.0$, the mass ratio $q=M_{cool}/M_{hot} \in [0.5, 0.77]$, the orbital inclination $i \in [55^\circ, 63^\circ]$. A comparison of the light curve obtained in 2005-2023 with the 1946 outburst template made it possible to predict the date of the upcoming outburst - January 2024.

We present the results of the optical identification and spectroscopic redshift measurements of 216 galaxy clusters detected in the SRG/eROSITA all-sky X-ray survey. The spectroscopic observations were performed in 2020–2023 with the 6-m BTA telescope at the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the 2.5-m telescope at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University, the 1.6-m AZT-33IK telescope at the Sayan Solar Observatory of the Institute of Solar–Terrestrial Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the 1.5-m Russian–Turkish telescope (RTT-150) at the TÜBİTAK Observatory. For all of the galaxy clusters presented here the spectroscopic redshift measurements have been obtained for the first time. Of these, 139 galaxy clusters have been detected for the first time in the SRG/eROSITA survey and 22 galaxy clusters are at redshifts z_spec≳ 0.7 , including three at z_spec≳ 1 . Deep direct images with the rizJK filters have also been obtained for four distant galaxy clusters at z_spec>0.7 . For these observations we chose the most massive clusters and, therefore, most of the galaxy clusters presented here with the spectroscopic redshifts measured by us will most likely enter in future into the cosmological samples of galaxy clusters from the SRG/eROSITA survey.

The results of the analysis of photometric and spectral monitorings of the recurrent symbiotic nova T CrB, carried out using the low-resolution spectrograph TDS of the 2.5-m telescope and the CCD photometer of the 0.6-m telescope of the CMO SAI, are presented. It is shown that the fluxes in the emission lines H α , H β , He I λ 5876 change by 6–16 % , and in the emission line He II λ 4686 by about 60 % on timescales of 20–60 minutes. The line flux curves on August 25, 2020 are similar to the B light curve of T CrB, but with a time delay of up to 600 s for different lines. The observed spectrum is approximated by the radiation of the system components with the following parameters: a red giant of spectral type M4 III, a nebula with T_e=10^4 K and emission measure of 4× 10^58 cm ^-3 , and the accretion disk with R_1=0.003R_⊙ , R_out≈ 1R_⊙ (at inclination i=57^∘ ).

The observations and comprehensive study of intermediate initial mass stars at the late stages of evolution, and after the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) in particular, are of crucial importance to identify the common properties for the stars of given group and to reveal binaries among them. This work aims to investigate photometric and spectral peculiarities of a poorly studied post-AGB candidate and infrared source IRAS 07253–2001. We present the new multicolor UBVR_CI_CYJHK photometry obtained with the telescopes of the Caucasian mountain observatory and analyse it together with the data acquired by the All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae. We report on the detection of multiperiod brightness variability caused by pulsations. A beating of close periods, the main one of 73 days and additional ones of 68 and 70 days, leads to amplitude variations. We have also detected a long-term sine trend in brightness with a period of nearly 1800 days. We suppose it to be orbital and IRAS 07253–2001 to be binary. Based on new low-resolution spectroscopic data obtained with the 2.5-m telescope of the Caucasian mountain observatory in 2020 and 2023 in the λ 3500–7500 wavelength range we have identified spectral lines and compiled a spectral atlas. We have found the [N II], [Ni II] and [S II] forbidden emission lines in the spectrum and discuss their origin. The H α line has a variable double-peaked emission component. We have derived preliminary estimates of the star’s parameters and detected a variation of radial velocity with a peak-to-peak amplitude of about 30 km s ^-1 .

We performed photometric observations of the S255, S257, S140, NGC7358 and the Orion Bar photo-dissociation regions (PDRs) at 2 micron using narrow-band filters centered on the Br-gamma, H2 and [FeII] lines, as well as the narrow-band Kcont and the broad-band H filters for continuum subtraction. The observations were done with the 2.5-m telescope of the SAI Caucasian Mountain Observatory and the near-infrared camera and spectrograph ASTRONIRCAM. We find several high-density arc-like structures in the Br-gamma and [FeII] images of the ionized gas in NGC7538 and extended shells and arcs visible through the H2 emission. The H ionization front and H2 dissociation front are merged in NGC7538. In S255 and S257 we detected only Br-gamma emission from the HII regions and bright H2 emission from the PDRs. The projected distance between the H ionization and H2 dissociation fronts are approx. 0.3-0.4 pc, which cannot be explained using models of a uniform medium. Most probably, the ionized and neutral gas in these PDRs is clumpy. The H-to-H2 transitions in the NGC7538, S255, S257 and S140 PDRs are gradual with no sharp borders. This conclusion also confirms the suggestion of a clumpy medium.

We present the results of photometric and spectroscopic monitoring campaigns of the changing look AGN NGC~2617 carried out from 2016 until 2022 and covering the wavelength range from the X-ray to the near-IR. The facilities included the telescopes of the SAI MSU, MASTER Global Robotic Net, the 2.3-m WIRO telescope, Swift, and others. We found significant variability at all wavelengths and, specifically, in the intensities and profiles of the broad Balmer lines. We measured time delays of ~ 6 days (~ 8 days) in the responses of the H-beta (H-alpha) line to continuum variations. We found the X-ray variations to correlate well with the UV and optical (with a small time delay of a few days for longer wavelengths). The K-band lagged the B band by 14 +- 4 days during the last 3 seasons, which is significantly shorter than the delays reported previously by the 2016 and 2017--2019 campaigns. Near-IR variability arises from two different emission regions: the outer part of the accretion disc and a more distant dust component. The HK-band variability is governed primarily by dust. The Balmer decrement of the broad-line components is inversely correlated with the UV flux. The change of the object's type, from Sy1 to Sy1.8, was recorded over a period of ~ 8 years. We interpret these changes as a combination of two factors: changes in the accretion rate and dust recovery along the line of sight.

The results of modeling the dependence of the «red leak» of photometric filters on various factors (color index 𝑉 −𝑅, luminosity class, interstellar reddening, air mass and PWV) during observations of stars are presented. The error arising from not taking into account the «red leak» in the case of filters used on the 0.6-m telescope of the CMO SAI can amount to 0.6 𝑚 − 0.8 𝑚 for late stars. Algorithms for reducing observational data are presented for filters 𝑈 and 𝐵. The results of observations of the rapid variability of two symbiotic stars CH Cyg and SU Lyn with cold components of very late spectral types are presented. For CH Cyg, rapid variability was detected on both observation dates. Taking into account the «red leak» effect, the amplitude in the 𝐵 band was 0.10𝑚 on November 6, 2019 and 0.19𝑚 on December 15, 2022, with a characteristic variability time of about 20 minutes. For SU Lyn, no rapid brightness variability was detected in the 𝐵 band on February 2, 2023 (with an accuracy of 0.003𝑚)

We performed photometric observations of the S 255, S 257, S 140, NGC 7358, and the Orion Bar photo-dissociation regions (PDRs) at 2 μ m using narrow-band filters centered on the Br γ , H _2 , and [Fe II] lines, as well as the narrow-band K_cont and the broad-band H filters for continuum subtraction. The observations were done with the 2.5-m telescope of the SAI Caucasian Mountain Observatory and the near-infrared camera and spectrograph ASTRONIRCAM. We find several high-density arc-like structures in the Br γ and [Fe II] images of the ionized gas in NGC 7538 and extended shells and arcs visible through the H _2 emission. The H ionization front and H _2 dissociation front are merged in NGC 7538. In S 255 and S 257 we detected only Br γ emission from the H II regions and bright H _2 emission from the PDRs. The projected distance between the H ionization and H _2 dissociation fronts is approximately 0.3–0.4 pc, which cannot be explained using models of a uniform medium. Most probably, the ionized and neutral gas in these PDRs is clumpy. The H I-to-H _2 transitions in the NGC 7538, S 255, S 257 and S 140 PDRs are gradual with no sharp borders. This conclusion also agrees with the suggestion of a clumpy medium.

We explain the details of the photometric operation mode of the ASTRONICAM near-IR spectrograph camera mounted on the 2.5-m telescope of the Caucasian Mountain Observatory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute and describe algorithms used for primary correction and overall pipeline reduction of the acquired data. We present the transformation equations from the 2MASS photometric system to the instrumental Y -band system. We derive color transformation coefficients between the instrumental photometric system and standard MKO-NIR (Mauna Kea Observatories Near-Infrared) system for the J , H , and K -band filters and show that the camera system is close to the standard photometric system. We found that in the case of observations at zenith, average background brightness level, and 1^'' seeing the stars with J=22^m , H=20m.5 , K=19m.5 can be measured with a 3000-s exposure at the signal-to-noise ratio SNR=3 .

We present an observational study of the luminous red nova (LRN) AT\,2021biy in the nearby galaxy NGC\,4631. The field of the object was routinely imaged during the pre-eruptive stage by synoptic surveys, but the transient was detected only at a few epochs from $\sim 231$\,days before maximum brightness. The LRN outburst was monitored with unprecedented cadence both photometrically and spectroscopically. AT\,2021biy shows a short-duration blue peak, with a bolometric luminosity of $\sim 1.6 \times 10^{41}$\,erg\,s$^{-1}$, followed by the longest plateau among LRNe to date, with a duration of 210\,days. A late-time hump in the light curve was also observed, possibly produced by a shell-shell collision. AT\,2021biy exhibits the typical spectral evolution of LRNe. Early-time spectra are characterised by a blue continuum and prominent H emission lines. Then, the continuum becomes redder, resembling that of a K-type star with a forest of metal absorption lines during the plateau phase. Finally, late-time spectra show a very red continuum ($T_{\mathrm{BB}} \approx 2050$ K) with molecular features (e.g., TiO) resembling those of M-type stars. Spectropolarimetric analysis indicates that AT\,2021biy has local dust properties similar to those of V838\,Mon in the Milky Way Galaxy. Inspection of archival {\it Hubble Space Telescope} data taken on 2003 August 3 reveals a $\sim 20$\,\msun\ progenitor candidate with log\,$(L/{\rm L}_{\odot}) = 5.0$\,dex and $T_{\rm{eff}} = 5900$\,K at solar metallicity. The above luminosity and colour match those of a luminous yellow supergiant. Most likely, this source is a close binary, with a 17--24\,\msun\ primary component.

We present an observational study of the luminous red nova (LRN) AT 2021biy in the nearby galaxy NGC 4631. The field of the object was routinely imaged during the pre-eruptive stage by synoptic surveys, but the transient was detected only at a few epochs from ∼231 days before maximum brightness. The LRN outburst was monitored with unprecedented cadence both photometrically and spectroscopically. AT 2021biy shows a short-duration blue peak, with a bolometric luminosity of ∼1.6 × 10 41 erg s −1 , followed by the longest plateau among LRNe to date, with a duration of 210 days. A late-time hump in the light curve was also observed, possibly produced by a shell-shell collision. AT 2021biy exhibits the typical spectral evolution of LRNe. Early-time spectra are characterised by a blue continuum and prominent H emission lines. Then, the continuum becomes redder, resembling that of a K-type star with a forest of metal absorption lines during the plateau phase. Finally, late-time spectra show a very red continuum ( T BB ≈ 2050 K) with molecular features (e.g., TiO) resembling those of M-type stars. Spectropolarimetric analysis indicates that AT 2021biy has local dust properties similar to those of V838 Mon in the Milky Way Galaxy. Inspection of archival Hubble Space Telescope data taken on 2003 August 3 reveals a ∼20 M ⊙ progenitor candidate with log ( L / L ⊙ ) = 5.0 dex and T eff = 5900 K at solar metallicity. The above luminosity and colour match those of a luminous yellow supergiant. Most likely, this source is a close binary, with a 17–24 M ⊙ primary component.

Based on the spectroscopic observations carried out with the 2.5-m telescope at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory (CMO) of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute (SAI), we have established the symbiotic nature of the poorly studied S star CSS 1102. The Balmer jump in emission is observed in the object’s spectrum, and there are lines typical for gaseous nebulae (H I, He I, and [Ne III]). An analysis of the spectral energy distribution has shown that, apart from the nebula and the cool component of spectral type S4.5/2, excess emission in the blue and near-ultraviolet ranges that can be attributed to an accretion disk is noticeable in the spectrum of CSS 1102. The photometric monitoring performed at the 60-cm CMO SAI telescope in the $$B$$ band has revealed rapid variability on a time scale of tens of minutes and with an amplitude of several percent. This is an additional argument for the existence of an accretion disk in the system.

ASTRONIRCAM is an infrared camera-spectrograph installed at the 2.5-meter telescope of the CMO SAI. The instrument is equipped with the HAWAII-2RG array. A bad pixels classification of the ASTRONIRCAM detector is proposed. The classification is based on histograms of the difference of consecutive non-destructive readouts of a flat field. Bad pixels are classified into 5 groups: hot (saturated on the first readout), warm (the signal accumulation rate is above the mean value by more than 5 standard deviations), cold (the rate is under the mean value by more than 5 standard deviations), dead (no signal accumulation), and inverse (having a negative signal accumulation in the first readouts). Normal pixels of the ASTRONIRCAM detector account for 99.6% of the total. We investigated the dependence between the amount of bad pixels and the number of cooldown cycles of the instrument. While hot pixels remain the same, the bad pixels of other types may migrate between groups. The number of pixels in each group stays roughly constant. We found that the mean and variance of the bad pixels amount in each group and the transitions between groups do not differ noticeably between normal or slow cooldowns.