Knots in Planetary Nebulae

Details Knots in Planetary Nebulae Knots in Planetary Nebulae

Jan 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003rmxac..15...29o&link_type=abstract

Winds, Bubbles, and Explosions: a conference to honor John Dyson, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México, September 9-13, 2002 (Eds. S. J.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

3

Ism: Planetary Nebulae

Scientific paper

We have studied the closest bright planetary nebulae with the Hubble Space Telescope's WFPC2 in order to characterize the dense knots already known to exist in NGC 7293. We find knots in all of the objects, arguing that knots are common, simply not always observed because of distance. The knots appear to form early in the life cycle of the nebula, probably being formed by an instability mechanism operating at the nebula's ionization front. As the front passes through the knots they are exposed to the photoionizing radiation field of the central star, causing them to be modified in their appearance. This would then explain as evolution the difference of appearance like the lacy filaments seen only in extinction in IC 4406 on the one extreme and the highly symmetric ``cometary" knots seen in NGC 7293. The intermediate form knots seen in NGC 2392, NGC 6720, and NGC 6853 would then represent intermediate phases of this evolution.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Knots in Planetary Nebulae does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Knots in Planetary Nebulae, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Knots in Planetary Nebulae will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1321490