International Time Project 1997/1998

Distances to Planetary Nebulae:
A Key to Galactic Structure and Evolution

This page
Aim, abstract, original proposal. Project Members Observing Plan
Subpages
Movements of Key Personnel
Targets: Initial selection from the Acker catalogue February 1997 List Current list (updated 1997.07.16) PN Coordinates (from DSS) LDSS mask field centres	Observations: Observing Schedule ALL Completed Observations IAC80 & JKT log - photometry/astrometry. WHT log - Field Star Spectral Classfication Completed Spectral Standards INT log - Balmer Decrement NOT log - Narrowband Balmer-line Imaging	Resources: Astrometry Notes incl. DSS GSC LEXT Balmer-Line Flux Standards Jacoby et al. Spectroscopic Standards, coords, spectral & luminosity classes, and V mags.
Monthly Bulletins: Feb 1997, Apr 1997, Jun 1997, Jul 1997, Aug 1997
Major Review Meetings: Minutes of Feb 1997 Meeting

Aim

The abstract from the original proposal (gziped .tex file)...: We propose to obtain accurate (30%) distances for 120 Galactic Planetary Nebulae (PNe) with the extinction-distance method, using a total of about 5000 field stars within 6'x6' fields centered on the nebulae.
These distances will allow us to derive an accurate distance scale for PNe. This is a crucial parameter in order to compute the total number of PNe in the Galaxy, which have important implications on the Galactic ultraviolet radiation field, the total processed mass returned to the interstellar medium, and more generally to our understanding of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy.
By combining these distances with our long-slit spectra of the nebulae themselves, we will determine fundamental parameters for our sample of 120 PNe, providing a better understanding of the late stages of stellar evolution (mass loss on the AGB, post--AGB evolutionary tracks, PN formation and evolution, white dwarf formation rates, etc.).
The 5000 lines of sight in the Galactic plane to 5000 stars with known spectral type and luminosity class will also allow detailed studies of the interstellar medium and of the Galactic structure.

The proposal was awarded observing time only for semester 97B, the latter half of 1997. The first half of the year was awarded to a competing proposal to observe Comet Hale-Bopp. Consequently, the intended program was effectively halved.

Project Members

The principal investigator for the project is Romano Corradi.

Project members, in alphabetical order, include:

Name                 Nationality    Affililiation    Purpose in Life
--------------------------------------------------------------------  
Luis Cuesta          Spain          IAC, Tenerife    Postdoc     
Katrina Exter        United Kingdom St. Andrews, UK  PhD student 
Martin Guerrero      Spain          IAC, Tenerife    Postdoc 
Antonio Mampaso      Spain          IAC, Tenerife    Staff Astronomer 
Arturo Manchado      Spain          IAC, Tenerife    Staff astronomer  
Victoriano Ortega    Spain          IAC, Tenerife    PhD student 
Mario Perinotto      Italy          U. Firenze       Professor 
Don Pollacco         United Kingdom ING, La Palma    Staff Astronomer  
Stuart Pottasch      Netherlands    U. Groningen     Professor 
Hugo Schwarz         Netherlands    NOT, La Palma    Astronomer in Charge
Miquel Serra         Spain          IAC, Tenerife    Astronomer 
Yervant Terzian      United States  Cornell U., USA  Professor  
Griet Van de Steene  Belgium        ESO, Chile       Postdoc  
Emanuel Vassiliadis  Australia      IAC, Tenerife    Postdoc
Eva Villaver         Spain          IAC, Tenerife    PhD student

Observing Plan

The majority of the observations will be completed between May and December, 1997.

The preliminary observing plan is as follows:

80 cm IAC: CCD, V-band astrometry, input for LDSS2.
1m JKT: CCD.
- V-band astrometry, input for LDSS2.
- B- & V-band photometry of field stars.
4.2m WHT: LDSS2, spectral classification of field stars.
2.5m INT: IDS, long-slit spectroscopy of nebulae, Balmer decrement.
2.6m NOT: CCD, narrow-band Balmer-line imaging.

The homepage of the IAC
The homepage of the Canary Islands PN Reserach Group

You are the 1 st visitor.