scholarly journals A dedicated camera for extragalactic Planetary Nebulae: The Planetary Nebula Spectrograph

1997 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 493-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.G. Douglas ◽  
K. Taylor ◽  
K. C. Freeman ◽  
T. S. Axelrod

Photometry in [OIII] emission of Planetary Nebulae in external galaxies can be used to determine distances as great as that of the Virgo cluster and beyond, as forcefully argued elsewhere during this conference (G.H. Jacoby, invited talk). In addition, measurement of the radial velocities of the PN allows dynamical behaviour to be probed to much greater distance from the galaxian centre than integrated light techniques (e.g. Arnaboldi 1994).

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (2) ◽  
pp. 2195-2203 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Jones ◽  
Ondřej Pejcha ◽  
Romano L M Corradi

ABSTRACT Recent studies have indicated that triple-star systems may play a role in the formation of an appreciable number of planetary nebulae, however, only one triple central star is known to date (and that system is likely too wide to have had much influence on the evolution of its component stars). Here, we consider the possibility that Sh 2-71 was formed by a triple system that has since broken apart. We present the discovery of two regions of emission, seemingly aligned with the proposed tertiary orbit (i.e. in line with the axis formed by the two candidate central star systems previously considered in the literature). We also perform a few simple tests of the plausibility of the triple hypothesis based on the observed properties (coordinates, radial velocities, distances, and proper motions) of the stars observed close to the projected centre of the nebula, adding further support through numerical integrations of binary orbits responding to mass loss. Although a number of open questions remain, we conclude that Sh 2-71 is currently one of the best candidates for planetary nebula formation influenced by triple-star interactions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S289) ◽  
pp. 287-291
Author(s):  
Magda Arnaboldi ◽  
Alessia Longobardi ◽  
Ortwin Gerhard ◽  
S. Okamura

AbstractThe luminosity function of planetary nebula populations in galaxies at distances within 10–15 Mpc exhibits a cut-off at bright magnitudes and a functional form that is observed to be invariant among different galactic morphological types. Therefore, it is used as a secondary distance indicator applicable to both early- and late-type galaxies. Recent deep surveys of planetary nebula populations in brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) seem to indicate that their luminosity functions deviate from those observed in the nearby galaxies. We discuss the evidence for such deviations in the Virgo Cluster, and indicate which physical mechanisms may alter the evolution of a planetary nebula envelope and its central star in the halo of BCGs. We then discuss preliminary results for distances to the Virgo, Hydra i, and Coma Clusters based on the observed planetary nebulae luminosity functions.


1995 ◽  
Vol 149 ◽  
pp. 33-37
Author(s):  
K. Taylor ◽  
N.G. Douglas

AbstractPlanetary Nebulae are proving to be powerful tertiary distance indicators as well as sensitive probes of a galaxy’s velocity field and mass distribution. We present a new technique for determining the positions, luminosities and radial velocities of the PNe in an external galaxy which may enable a one-step measurement of all these parameters.


1995 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 473-474
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Hui

AbstractWe made a spatially complete and kinematically unbiased survey of M 31 for planetary nebulae (PNs). The survey covers a projected area of 20 by 40 kpc centered on M 31. Subsequently, we measured the radial velocities of over 800 PNs using the Hydra multi-object spectrograph on the KPNO 4-m telescope. With this large dataset, a detailed dynamical study of the stellar disk, bulge and halo populations in M 31 is currently underway. We are focusing on the dynamical transition between the disk, bulge and halo, and a comparison between the kinematics of the PNs and globular clusters.


1997 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 475-476
Author(s):  
M. G. Richer ◽  
G. Stasińska ◽  
M. L. McCall

We have obtained spectra of 28 planetary nebulae in the bulge of M31 using the MOS spectrograph at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Typically, we observed the [O II] λ3727 to He I λ5876 wavelength region at a resolution of approximately 1.6 å/pixel. For 19 of the 21 planetary nebulae whose [OIII]λ5007 luminosities are within 1 mag of the peak of the planetary nebula luminosity function, our oxygen abundances are based upon a measured [OIII]λ4363 intensity, so they are based upon a measured electron temperature. The oxygen abundances cover a wide range, 7.85 dex < 12 + log(O/H) < 9.09 dex, but the mean abundance is surprisingly low, 12 + log(O/H)–8.64 ± 0.32 dex, i.e., roughly half the solar value (Anders & Grevesse 1989). The distribution of oxygen abundances is shown in Figure 1, where the ordinate indicates the number of planetary nebulae with abundances within ±0.1 dex of any point on the x-axis. The dashed line indicates the mean abundance, and the dotted lines indicate the ±1 σ points. The shape of this abundance distribution seems to indicate that the bulge of M31 does not contain a large population of bright, oxygen-rich planetary nebulae. This is a surprising result, for various population synthesis studies (e.g., Bica et al. 1990) have found a mean stellar metallicity approximately 0.2 dex above solar. This 0.5 dex discrepancy leads one to question whether the mean stellar metallicity is as high as the population synthesis results indicate or if such metal-rich stars produce bright planetary nebulae at all. This could be a clue concerning the mechanism responsible for the variation in the number of bright planetary nebulae observed per unit luminosity in different galaxies (e.g., Hui et al. 1993).


1993 ◽  
Vol 155 ◽  
pp. 480-480
Author(s):  
C.Y. Zhang ◽  
S. Kwok

Making use of the results from recent infrared and radio surveys of planetary nebulae, we have selected 431 nebulae to form a sample where a number of distance-independent parameters (e.g., Tb, Td, I60μm and IRE) can be constructed. In addition, we also made use of other distance-independent parameters ne and T∗ where recent measurements are available. We have investigated the relationships among these parameters in the context of a coupled evolution model of the nebula and the central star. We find that most of the observed data in fact lie within the area covered by the model tracks, therefore lending strong support to the correctness of the model. Most interestingly, we find that the evolutionary tracks for nebulae with central stars of different core masses can be separated in a Tb-T∗ plane. This implies that the core masses and ages of the central stars can be determined completely independent of distance assumptions. The core masses and ages have been obtained for 302 central stars with previously determined central-star temperatures. We find that the mass distribution of the central stars strongly peaks at 0.6 M⊙, with 66% of the sample having masses <0.64 MM⊙. The luminosities of the central stars are then derived from their positions in the HR diagram according to their core masses and central star temperatures. If this method of mass (and luminosity) determination turns out to be accurate, we can bypass the extremely unreliable estimates for distances, and will be able to derive other physical properties of planetary nebulae.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-363
Author(s):  
Johanna Jurcsik ◽  
Benjamin Montesinos

FG Sagittae is one of the most important key objects of post-AGB stellar evolutionary studies. As a consequence of a final helium shell flash, this unique variable has shown real evolutionary changes on human time scales during this century. The observational history was reviewed in comparison with predictions from evolutionary models. The central star of the old planetary nebula (Hel-5) evolved from left to right in the HR diagram, going in just hundred years from the hot region of exciting sources of planetary nebulae to the cool red supergiant domain just before our eyes becoming a newly-born post-AGB star. The effective temperature of the star was around 50,000 K at the beginning of this century, and the last estimates in the late 1980s give 5,000-6,500 K. Recent spectroscopic observations obtained by Ingemar Lundström show definite changes in the nebular line intensities. This fact undoubtedly rules out the possibility that, instead of FG Sge, a hidden hot object would be the true central star of the nebula. Consequently, the observed evolutionary changes are connected with the evolution of a single star.


2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Jordan Simpson ◽  
David Jones ◽  
Roger Wesson ◽  
Jorge García-Rojas

Abstract A30 belongs to a class of planetary nebulae identified as “born-again”, containing dense, hydrogen-poor ejecta with extreme abundance discrepancy factors (ADFs), likely associated with a central binary system. We present intermediate-dispersion spectroscopy of one such feature—the J4 equatorial knot. We confirm the apparent physical and chemical segregation of the polar and equatorial knots observed in previous studies, and place an upper limit on the ADF for O2+ of 35, significantly lower than that of the polar knots. These findings further reinforce the theory that the equatorial and polar knots originate from different events.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S317) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
Magda Arnaboldi ◽  
Alessia Longobardi ◽  
Ortwin Gerhard

AbstractThe diffuse extended outer regions of galaxies are hard to study because they are faint, with typical surface brightness of 1% of the dark night sky. We can tackle this problem by using resolved star tracers which remain visible at large distances from the galaxy centers. This article describes the use of Planetary Nebulae as tracers and the calibration of their properties as indicators of the star formation history, mean age and metallicity of the parent stars in the Milky Way and Local Group galaxies. We then report on the results from a deep, extended, planetary nebulae survey in a 0.5 deg2region centered on the brightest cluster galaxy NGC 4486 (M87) in the Virgo cluster core, carried out with SuprimeCam@Subaru and FLAMES-GIRAFFE@VLT. Two planetary nebulae populations are identified out to 150 kpc distance from the center of M87. One population is associated with the M87 halo and the second one with the intracluster light in the Virgo cluster core. They have different line-of-sight velocity and spatial distributions, as well as different planetary nebulae specific frequencies and luminosity functions. The intracluster planetary nebulae in the surveyed region correspond to a luminosity of four times the luminosity of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The M87 halo planetary nebulae trace an older, more metal-rich, parent stellar population. A substructure detected in the projected phase-space of the line-of-sight velocity vs. major axis distance for the M87 halo planetary nebulae provides evidence for the recent accretion event of a satellite galaxy with luminosity twice that of M33. The satellite stars were tidally stripped about 1 Gyr ago, and reached apocenter at a major axis distance of 60–90 kpc from the center of M87. The M87 halo is still growing significantly at the distances where the substructure is detected.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S283) ◽  
pp. 442-443
Author(s):  
Brent Miszalski ◽  
A. Acker ◽  
F. Ochsenbein ◽  
Q. A. Parker

AbstractSince the issue of the unifying Strasbourg-ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae (SECGPN) a large number of new discoveries have been made thanks to improved surveys and discovery techniques. The increasingly heterogeneous published population of Galactic PNe, that we have determined totals <2850 PNe, is becoming more difficult to study on the whole without a centralised repository. We introduce a consolidated and interactive online database with object classifications that reflect the latest multi-wavelength data and the most recent results. The extensible database, hosted by the Centre de Donnees astronomique de Strasbourg (CDS), will contain a wealth of observed data for large, well-defined samples of PNe including coordinates, multi-wavelength images, spectroscopy, line intensities, radial velocities and central star information. It is anticipated that the database will be publicly released early 2012.


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