Astrometry with The Hubble Space Telescope: A Parallax of the Central Star of the Planetary Nebula NGC 6853

We present an absolute parallax and relative proper motion for the central star of the planetary nebula NGC 6853 (the Dumbbell). We obtain these with astrometric data from the Fine Guidance Sensor 3, a white-light interferometer on the Hubble Space Telescope. Spectral classifications and VRIJHKT₂M and DDO51 photometry of the stars making up the astrometric reference frame provide spectrophotometric estimates of their absolute parallaxes. Introducing these into our model as observations with error, we find π_abs=2.10+/-0.48 mas for the DAO central star of NGC 6853. A weighted average with a previous ground-based USNO determination yields π_abs=2.40+/-0.32. We assume that the extinction suffered by the reference stars nearest (in angular separation and distance) to the central star is the same as for the central star. Correcting for color differences, we find <A_V>=0.30+/-0.06 for the central star, hence, an absolute magnitude M_V=5.48^-0.16_+0.15. A recent determination of the central star effective temperature aided in estimating the central star radius, R_*=0.055+/-0.02 R_solar, a star that may be descending to the white dwarf cooling track.

Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.