Spectrophotometry of the planetary nebula KjPn 8

Flux-calibrated low-resolution spectra covering the optical wavelength range from 3400 to 7500 Å have been obtained over the central region and the surroundings of the extraordinary planetary nebula (PN) KjPn 8 (PNG 112.5-00.1). The spectrum from the core is of low excitation with T _e(N  II ) = 8000 K and n _e(S  II ) = 550 cm⁻³. KjPn 8 is found to be a Type I PN according to the original classification scheme of Peimbert & Torres-Peimbert, with enriched He/H and N/O ratios with respect to mean values for PN. Increased O/H, Ne/H and Ar/H ratios over those of average PN reflect the possible metal-rich environment from which the progenitor star formed, and also are similar to those found in the extreme Type I PN He 2-111. The N/H ratio is found to be only moderately high compared to the average PN and consequently, the large O abundance pulls the N/O ratio towards the lower limit of the criterion for Type I planetary nebulae (PNe) in this case. In addition, the spectra of some knots and faint regions in the KjPn 8 surroundings are presented, which show only a few spectral lines. Low electron densities ranging from 100 to 300 cm⁻³ have been derived in these outer regions.     

The blue supergiant Sher 25 and its intriguing hourglass nebula

The blue supergiant Sher 25 is surrounded by an asymmetric, hourglass-shaped circumstellar nebula. Its structure and dynamics have been studied previously through high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, and it appears dynamically similar to the ring structure around SN 1987A. Here, we present long-slit spectroscopy of the circumstellar nebula around Sher 25, and of the background nebula of the host cluster NGC 3603. We perform a detailed nebular abundance analysis to measure the gas-phase abundances of oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, neon and argon. The oxygen abundance in the circumstellar nebula  (12 + log O/H = 8.61 ± 0.13 dex)  is similar to that in the background nebula (8.56 ± 0.07), suggesting that the composition of the host cluster is around solar. However, we confirm that the circumstellar nebula is very rich in nitrogen, with an abundance of 8.91 ± 0.15, compared to the background value of 7.47 ± 0.18. A new analysis of the stellar spectrum with the fastwind model atmosphere code suggests that the photospheric nitrogen and oxygen abundances in Sher 25 are consistent with the nebular results. While the nitrogen abundances are high, when compared to stellar evolutionary models, they do not unambiguously confirm that the star has undergone convective dredge-up during a previous red supergiant phase. We suggest that the more likely scenario is that the nebula was ejected from the star while it was in the blue supergiant phase. The star's initial mass was around  50 M_⊙  , which is rather too high for it to have had a convective envelope stage as a red supergiant. Rotating stellar models that lead to mixing of core-processed material to the stellar surface during core H-burning can quantitatively match the stellar results with the nebula abundances.     

Planetary nebula chemical abundances: Z-distribution and connection with the central star masses

Dependencies of galactic planetary nebula chemical abundances and their central star masses on the distance from the galactic plane are discussed.Z-dependencies of He/H, N/H, N/O and Ar/H and dependencies of He/H, N/H, N/O, Ne/H and Ar/H on central star mass are found. Three galactic planetary nebula distance scale samples are used and it is shown that the distance scale system (where distances of each planetary nebula mass class are determined with the separate scale) is the most reliable. The correlations obtained for the Magellanic Cloud planetary nebulae are used for comparison.     

A long trail behind the planetary nebula HFG1 (PK 136+05) and its pre-cataclysmic binary central star V664 Cas

A deep wide-field image in the light of the Hα and [N  ii ] 6548 & 6584 Å emission lines, of the planetary nebula HFG1 which surrounds the pre-cataclysmic binary system V664 Cas, has revealed a tail of emission at least 20 arcmin long, at a position angle of 316°. Evidence is presented which suggests that this is an  ≈10⁵ yr  old trail of shocked material, left behind V664 Cas as it ejects matter whilst ploughing through its local interstellar media at anywhere between 29 and 59 km s⁻¹ depending on its distance from the Sun.     

Metallicity measurements using atomic lines in M and K dwarf stars

We report the first survey of chemical abundances in M and K dwarf stars using atomic absorption lines in high-resolution spectra. We have measured Fe and Ti abundances in 35 M and K dwarf stars using equivalent widths measured from  λ/Δλ≈ 33 000  spectra. Our analysis takes advantage of recent improvements in model atmospheres of low-temperature dwarf stars. The stars have temperatures between 3300 and 4700 K, with most cooler than 4100 K. They cover an iron abundance range of  −2.44 < [Fe/H] < +0.16  . Our measurements show [Ti/Fe] decreasing with increasing [Fe/H], a trend similar to that measured for warmer stars, where abundance analysis techniques have been tested more thoroughly. This study is a step towards the observational calibration of procedures to estimate the metallicity of low-mass dwarf stars using photometric and low-resolution spectral indices.     

Sakurai's object: the ionized nebula at radio wavelengths

Sakurai's object (V4334 Sgr) is a planetary nebula nucleus which is undergoing its final helium shell flash. This is the first of these rare and important events to be observable with non-optical instruments. We report the first radio detection, using a short (2-h) observation with the Very Large Array (VLA) at 4.86 GHz. The radio emission structure is coincident with the 34-arcsec diameter planetary nebula seen in optical emission lines. We find a statistical distance ∼ 3.8 ± 0.6 kpc, with a range of 1.9 <  D  < 5.3 kpc, depending on the planetary nebula (PN) mass. While we have no direct evidence for a new (post-flash) stellar wind, we estimate an upper limit to the mass-loss rate due to any such wind of 1.7 × 10⁻⁷ M⊙ yr⁻¹. The number of emitting knots in the radio-visible nebula indicates an electron density of ∼ 2 × 10⁸ m⁻³ in those knots, and a total emitting ionized mass of ∼ 0.15 M⊙, at an assumed distance of 3.8 kpc. The radio flux density indicates an Hβ flux of ∼ 6 × 10⁻¹⁶ W m⁻², suggesting an extinction E ( B  −  V ) ∼ 1.15, comparable with reddening estimates in the direction of V4334 Sgr.     

The optical spectrum of the planetary nebula NGC 6543

With the Hamilton echelle spectrograph at the Lick Observatory, emission-rich spectral lines of the planetary nebula NGC 6543 were secured in the wavelength range from 3550 to 10 100 Å. We chose two bright regions, ∼8 arcsec east and ∼13 arcsec north of the central star, the physical conditions and chemical abundances of which may differ as a result of the different physical characteristics involving the mass ejection of different epochs. By combining Hamilton echelle observations with archive UV data secured with the International Ultraviolet Explorer ( IUE ), we obtain improved diagnostics and chemical compositions for the two observed regions. The diagnostic diagram gives the average value of T _e=8000∼8300 K, and the electron number density near N _e∼5000 cm⁻³ for most ions, while some low-excitation lines indicate much higher temperatures, i.e. T _e∼10 000 K. With the construction of a photoionization model, we try to fit the observed spectra in a self-consistent way: thus, for most elements, we employ the same chemical abundances in the nebular shell; and we adopt an improved Sobolev approximation model atmosphere for the hydrogen-deficient Wolf–Rayet type central star. Within the observational errors, the chemical abundances do not seem to show any positional variation except for helium. The chemical abundances of NGC 6543 appear to be the same as in average planetary nebulae. The progenitor star may have been an object of one solar mass, most of the heavier elements of which were less plentiful than in the Sun.     

Chemical abundances for Hf 2-2, a planetary nebula with the strongest-known heavy-element recombination lines

We present high-quality optical spectroscopic observations of the planetary nebula (PN) Hf 2-2. The spectrum exhibits many prominent optical recombination lines (ORLs) from heavy-element ions. Analysis of the H  i and He  i recombination spectrum yields an electron temperature of ∼900 K, a factor of 10 lower than given by the collisionally excited [O  iii ] forbidden lines. The ionic abundances of heavy elements relative to hydrogen derived from ORLs are about a factor of 70 higher than those deduced from collisionally excited lines (CELs) from the same ions, the largest abundance discrepancy factor (adf) ever measured for a PN. By comparing the observed O  ii λ4089/λ4649 ORL ratio to theoretical value as a function of electron temperature, we show that the O  ii ORLs arise from ionized regions with an electron temperature of only ∼630 K. The current observations thus provide the strongest evidence that the nebula contains another previously unknown component of cold, high-metallicity gas, which is too cool to excite any significant optical or ultraviolet CELs and is thus invisible via such lines. The existence of such a plasma component in PNe provides a natural solution to the long-standing dichotomy between nebular plasma diagnostics and abundance determinations using CELs on the one hand and ORLs on the other.     

Chemical composition of the Orion nebula derived from echelle spectrophotometry

We present echelle spectroscopy in the 3500- to 7060-... range for two positions of the Orion nebula. The data were obtained using the 2.1-m telescope at Observatorio Astronómico Nacional in San Pedro Mártir, Baja California. We have measured the intensities of about 220 emission lines, in particular 81 permitted lines of C⁺, N⁺, N⁺⁺, O⁰, O⁺, Ne⁰, Si⁺, Si⁺⁺ and S⁺, some of them produced by recombination only and others mainly by fluorescence. We have determined electron temperatures, electron densities and ionic abundances using different continuum and line intensity ratios. We derived the He, C and O abundances from recombination lines and find that the C/H and O/H values are very similar to those derived from B stars of the Orion association, and that these nebular values are independent of the temperature structure. We have also derived abundances from collisionally excited lines. These abundances depend on the temperature structure; accurate t ² values have been derived comparing the O II recombination lines with the [O III ] collisionally excited lines. The gaseous abundances of Mg, Si and Fe show significant depletions, implying that a substantial fraction of these atoms is tied up in dust grains. The derived depletions are similar to those found in warm clouds of the Galactic disc, but are not as large as those found in cold clouds. A comparison of the solar and Orion chemical abundances is made.     

M4–18: the planetary nebula and its WC10 central star

We present a detailed analysis of the planetary nebula M4–18 (G146.7+07.6) and its WC10-type Wolf–Rayet (WR) central star, based on high‐quality optical spectroscopy (WHT/UES, INT/IDS, WIYN/DensPak) and imaging ( HST /WFPC2). From a non-LTE model atmosphere analysis of the stellar spectrum, we derive T _eff=31 kK,     v _∞=160 km s⁻¹ and abundance number ratios of H/He<0.5, C/He=0.60 and O/He=0.10. These parameters are remarkably similar to those of He 2–113 ([WC10]). Assuming an identical stellar mass to that determined by De Marco et al. for He 2–113, we obtain a distance of 6.8 kpc to M4–18 [ E ( B−V )=0.55 mag from nebular and stellar techniques]. This implies that the planetary nebula of M4–18 has a dynamical age of ∼3100 yr, in contrast to ≥270 yr for He 2–113. This is supported by the much higher electron density of the latter. These observations may be reconciled with evolutionary predictions only if [WC]-type stars exhibit a range in stellar masses.
Photoionization modelling of M4–18 is carried out using our stellar WR flux distribution, together with blackbody and Kurucz energy distributions obtained from Zanstra analyses. We conclude that the ionizing energy distribution from the WR model provides the best consistency with the observed nebular properties, although discrepancies remain.     

A detailed abundance analysis of the hot post-AGB star ZNG-1 in M10

We present a model-atmosphere analysis for the bright ( V ∼13) star ZNG-1, in the globular cluster M10. From high-resolution ( R ∼40 000) optical spectra we confirm ZNG-1 to be a post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) star. The derived atmospheric parameters are T _eff=26 500±1000 K and log  g =3.6±0.2 dex . A differential abundance analysis reveals a chemical composition typical of hot post-AGB objects, with ZNG-1 being generally metal poor, although helium is approximately solar. The most interesting feature is the large carbon underabundance of more than 1.3 dex. This carbon deficiency, along with an observed nitrogen enhancement relative to other elements, may suggest that ZNG-1 evolved off the AGB before the third dredge-up occurred. Also, iron depletions observed in other similar stars suggest that gas–dust fractionation in the AGB progenitor could be responsible for the observed composition of these objects. However, we need not invoke either scenario since the chemical composition of ZNG-1 is in good agreement with abundances found for a Population II star of the same metallicity.     

Chemical abundances in the young galaxy at z=2.309 towards PHL 957

We present high-resolution Utrecht Echelle Spectrograph spectra of the quasar PHL 957, obtained in order to study the foreground damped Lyα (DLA) galaxy at z =2.309. Measurements of absorption lines lead to accurate abundance determinations of Fe, S and N which complement measurements of Zn, Cr and Ni already available for this system. We find [Fe/H]=−2.0±0.1, [S/H]=−1.54±0.06 and [N/H]=−2.76±0.07. The ratio [Fe/Zn]=−0.44 provides evidence that ≈74 per cent of iron and ≈28 per cent of zinc are locked into dust grains with a dust-to-gas ratio of ≈3 per cent of the Galactic one. The total iron content in both gas and dust in the DLA system is [Fe/H]=−1.4. This confirms a rather low metallicity in the galaxy, which is in the early stages of its chemical evolution. The detection of S ii allows us to measure the S ii /Zn ii ratio, which is a unique diagnostic tool for tracing back its chemical history, since it is not affected by the presence of dust. Surprisingly, the resulting relative abundance is [S/Zn]=0.0±0.1, at variance with the overabundance found in the Galactic halo stars with similar metallicity. We emphasize that the [S/Zn] ratio is solar in all the three DLA absorbers with extant data. Upper limits are also found for Mn, Mg, O and P and, once the dust depletion is accounted for, we obtain [Mg/Fe]_c<+0.2, [O/Fe]_c<+0.4, [Mn/Fe]_c<+0.0 and [P/Fe]_c<−0.7. The [α/Fe] values do not support Galactic halo-like abundances, implying that the chemical evolution of this young galaxy is not reproducing the evolution of our own Galaxy.     

The Galactic disc distribution of planetary nebulae with warm dust emission features – I

We investigate the Galactic disc distribution of a sample of planetary nebulae characterized in terms of their mid-infrared spectral features. The total number of Galactic disc PNe with 8–13 μm spectra is brought up to 74 with the inclusion of 24 new objects, the spectra of which we present for the first time. 54 PNe have clearly identified warm dust emission features, and form a sample that we use to construct the distribution of the C/O chemical balance in Galactic disc PNe. The dust emission features complement the information on the progenitor masses brought by the gas-phase N/O ratios: PNe with unidentified infrared emission bands have the highest N/O ratios, while PNe with the silicate signature have either very high N enrichment or close to none. We find a trend for a decreasing proportion of O-rich PNe towards the third and fourth Galactic quadrants. Two independent distance scales confirm that the proportion of O-rich PNe decreases from     per cent inside the solar circle to     per cent outside. PNe with warm dust are also the youngest. PNe with no warm dust are uniformly distributed in C/O and N/O ratios, and do not appear to be confined to     They also have higher 6-cm fluxes, as expected from more evolved PNe. We show that the IRAS fluxes are a good representation of the bolometric flux for compact and IR-bright PNe, which are probably optically thick. Selection of objects with     should probe a good portion of the Galactic disc for these young, dense and compact nebulae, and the dominant selection effects are rooted in the PN catalogues.     

Spectral variation in the X-ray pulsar GX 1+4 during a low-flux episode

The X-ray pulsar GX 1+4 was observed with the RXTE satellite for a total of 51 ks between 1996 July 19 and 21. During this period the flux decreased smoothly from an initial mean level of ≈6×10³⁶ erg s⁻¹ to a minimum of ≈4×10³⁵ erg s⁻¹ (2–60 keV, assuming a source distance of 10 kpc) before partially recovering towards the initial level at the end of the observation.
BATSE pulse timing measurements indicate that a torque reversal took place approximately 10 d after this observation. Both the mean pulse profile and the photon spectrum varied significantly. The observed variation in the source may provide important clues as to the mechanism of torque reversals.
The single best-fitting spectral model was based on a component originating from thermal photons with kT ₀≈1 keV Comptonized by a plasma of temperature kT ≈7 keV. Both the flux modulation with phase during the brightest interval and the evolution of the mean spectra over the course of the observation are consistent with variations in this model component; with, in addition, a doubling of the column density n _H contributing to the mean spectral change.
A strong flare of duration ≲50 s was observed during the interval of minimum flux, with the peak flux ≈20 times the mean level. Although beaming effects are likely to mask the true variation in M ˙ thought to give rise to the flare, the timing of a modest increase in flux prior to the flare is consistent with dual episodes of accretion resulting from successive orbits of a locally dense patch of matter in the accretion disc.     

Gas-phase mean opacities for varying [M/H], N/O and C/O

We present a set of gas-phase Planck mean and Rosseland mean opacity tables applicable for simulations of star and planet formation, stellar evolution and disc modelling at various metallicities in hydrogen-rich environments. The tables are calculated for gas temperatures between 1000 and 10 000 K and total hydrogen number densities between 10² and  10¹⁷ cm⁻³  . The carbon-to-oxygen ratio is varied from 0.43 to well above 2.0, the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio between 0.14 and 100.0. The tables are calculated for a range of metallicities down to  [M/H]'= log  N _M/ N _H=−7.0  . We demonstrate how the mean opacities and the abundances of the opacity species vary with C/O, N/O and  [M/H]'  . We use the element abundances from Grevesse et al., and we provide additional tables for the oxygen abundance value from Caffau et al. All tables will be available online at http://star-www.st-and.ac.uk/~ch80/datasources.html .     

Morphology, kinematics and modelling of the elliptical planetary nebula Sa 2-21

The little studied PN, Sa 2-21 has been observed using the Manchester echelle spectrometer at the Anglo-Australian telescope. Narrow band, long-slit spectra were obtained at six positions over two perpendicular position angles in both the [N ii ]λ6584  Å and [O iii ]λ5007  Å emission lines. An [O iii ] halo has been detected for the first time. A morphological modelling program was used to help determine the geometry, structure and kinematics of this ellipsoidal PN. It is proposed that the structure includes a pair of mid-latitude rings of [N ii ] emission, not previously seen in elliptical PNe. Radial spokes of [O iii ] emission have been detected in the main nebular shell indicating the presence of dynamical instabilities.     

CCD images and long-slit spectroscopy of the ring nebula around θ Mus

We present the first digital CCD images and long-slit spectroscopy of the optical ring nebula around the Wolf–Rayet star θ Mus. The CCD images obtained through narrow-band filters centred at [O  iii ] and Hα show that the nebula has a filamentary structure, similar to supernova remnants, mainly seen in [O  iii ]. A spatial detachment between [O  iii ] and Hα images suggests excitation stratification, or multiple rings. An analysis of the physical conditions in the nebula was performed by means of long-slit CCD spectra. The spectral images show that the nebula is of low density and medium excitation. By means of quotients of recombination and collisional spectral line fluxes we determine that the principal excitation mechanism is photoionization. We have determined the electronic temperature and density, and chemical abundances for the oxygen at different sites within the nebula. Nebular chemical abundances are found to be similar to the Galactic ISM, indicating that the nebula is mainly composed of swept up material.     

The chemical evolution of globular clusters – I. Reactive elements and non-metals

We propose a new chemical evolution model aimed at explaining the chemical properties of globular clusters (GCs) stars. Our model depends upon the existence of (i) a peculiar pre-enrichment phase in the GC's parent galaxy associated with very low-metallicity Type II supernovae (SNe II) and (ii) localized inhomogeneous enrichment from a single Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) and intermediate-mass  (4–7 M_⊙)  asymptotic giant branch field stars. GC formation is then assumed to take place within this chemically peculiar region. Thus, in our model the first low-mass GC stars to form are those with peculiar abundances (i.e. O-depleted and Na-enhanced), while 'normal' stars (i.e. O-rich and Na-depleted) are formed in a second stage when self-pollution from SNe II occurs and the peculiar pollution from the previous phase is dispersed. In this study, we focus on three different GCs: NGC 6752, 6205 (M 13) and 2808. We demonstrate that, within this framework, a model can be constructed which is consistent with (i) the elemental abundance anticorrelations, (ii) isotopic abundance patterns and (iii) the extreme [O/Fe] values observed in NGC 2808 and M 13, without violating the global constraints of approximately unimodal [Fe/H] and C+N+O.     

Two jets from the Orion nebula (M42) 'proplyds': kinematics, morphologies and origins

A spatially unresolved velocity feature, with an approaching radial velocity of  ≈100 km s⁻¹  with respect to the systemic radial velocity, in a position–velocity array of [O  iii ] 5007-Å line profiles is identified as the kinematical counterpart of a jet from the proplyd LV 5 (158–323) in the core of the Orion nebula. The only candidate in Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) imagery for this jet appears to be a displaced, ionized knot. Also an elongated jet projects from the proplyd GMR 15 (161–307). Its receding radial velocity difference appears at  ≈80 km s⁻¹  in the same position–velocity array.
A 'standard' model for jets from young, low-mass stars invokes an accelerating, continuous flow outwards with an opening angle of a few degrees. Here an alternative explanation is suggested which may apply to some, if not all, of the proplyd jets. In this, a 'bullet' of dense material is ejected which ploughs through dense circumstellar ambient gas. The decelerating tail of material ablated from the surface of the bullet would be indistinguishable from a continuously emitted jet in current observations.     

Chemical abundances of the WR-ring nebulae NGC 2359 and RCW 78

We report on extensive spectroscopic observations of the WR-ring nebulae NGC 2359 and RCW 78, respectively, excited by the WN5 stars HD 56925 and WN8 HD 117688. For the first object we have determined abundances for O/H, Ne/H, N/H, and He/H in many different positions, including the ionized gas in the bubble, inside the optical shell structure, and the outermost zones associated with the S 298 Hii region. We do not find any significant difference in the N/H and O/H abundances over the entire nebula. The O/H and N/H abundances expected are close to those for a normal Hii region located at similar distance. In the case of He/H we find indication of local enhancements which sum to the abundance of metal rich galactic Hii regions like M17. RCW 78 appears to show slight overabundances of He/H and N/H in the two observed positions.The ionising temperature for the WN central star (HD 56925) of NGC 2359 is determined from the observed Hii region spectrum giving a value of 50000 K, appropriate to its spectral type.