The Distance to NGC 6302
Abstract
New 6 cm continuum and radio recombination line VLA observations as well as CO observations are presented of the bright PN NGC 6302. The H110-alpha line is significantly broader than the H76-alpha line, an effect which is attributed to electron pressure broadening. An electron density of 25,000/cu cm is derived, a value in good agreement with previous optical estimates. Adopting this value and a geometric model for the nebula, a distance of 2.2 + or - 1.1 kpc is derived. An attempt is made to measure the angular expansion in the nebula using 6 cm continuum observations and the technique of Masson (1986). The failure to measure any expansion implies a lower limit of 0.7 + or - 0.3 kpc for the distance. An IRAS luminosity of 13,000 solar, an ionized nebular mass of about 0.2 solar, a neutral hydrogen mass of about 0.05 solar, and a molecular hydrogen mass of about 0.5 solar are derived. The luminosity and total mass are among the largest known for PNs.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- October 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1086/167956
- Bibcode:
- 1989ApJ...345..862G
- Keywords:
-
- Astrometry;
- Distance;
- Planetary Nebulae;
- Radio Sources (Astronomy);
- Angular Resolution;
- Astronomical Maps;
- Centimeter Waves;
- H Lines;
- Interferometry;
- Mass;
- Stellar Winds;
- Very Large Array (Vla);
- Astronomy;
- INTERFEROMETRY;
- NEBULAE: INDIVIDUAL NGC NUMBER: NGC 6302;
- NEBULAE: PLANETARY;
- RADIO SOURCES: LINES