Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-h4f6x Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-08-04T06:53:42.997Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Fluorescent H2 Emission in the Planetary Nebulae BD+30 3639 and Hb 12

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

H. L. Dinerstein
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department and McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin
J. S. Carr
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department and McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin
P. M. Harvey
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department and McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin
D. F. Lester
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department and McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

We report results from a program of near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the H2 emission from planetary nebulae, being carried out at McDonald Observatory using an InSb array-detector spectrometer. Our observations employ both high spatial resolution (3″ diameter aperture) and high spectral resolution (λ/Δλ = 200–600), thus avoiding potential problems with line blending and spatial registration. These observations provide simultaneous measurements of H I recombination lines and H2 emission lines, thus accurately defining the relative extent and distribution of the ionized vs. molecular material. One-dimensional cuts through the compact planetary nebulae BD+30 3639 and Hubble 12, taken along east-west and north-south axes through the nebular centers, show that the H2 emission is concentrated in a ring or shell outside the ionized nebular core. The angular extent of the H2 emission in Hb 12, with a characteristic diameter of about 8–10″ arc seconds, is strikingly larger than the dimensions of the ionized core, which is less than 2″ in diameter.

Information

Type
II. Nebular Properties
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1989