CO in the bipolar planetary nebula NGC 2346

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Astron. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/114682· OSTI ID:7129323

Healy, A P; Huggins, P J

Observations of the CO (2-1) line in the bipolar (bowtie) planetary nebula NGC 2346 were made to study the distribution and kinematics of the molecular gas. The CO emission is dominated by two distinct components with a velocity separation of 21 km/s, but weaker emission extends over a total range of 56 km/s. The velocity-integrated map of CO is elongated along the minor axis of the optical nebula and is consistent with other observations in indicating that dense matter at the nebular waist plays an important role in the bipolar structure. Along the major axis of the nebula, the redshifted and blueshifted CO components are offset about the center, which is consistent with a tilted geometry suggested by the kinematics of the ionized gas. Along the minor axis at low intensity levels there is evidence for some degree of continuous CO distribution around the nebular waist. Mass estimates show that 40 percent or more of the total mass of the nebula is in the form of molecular gas. 18 references.

• Research Organization: New York Univ., NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7129323
• Journal Information: Astron. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astron. J.; (United States) Vol. 95; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COSMIC GASES
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
FLUIDS
GASES
GIANT STARS
MAPS
MASS
MORPHOLOGY
NEBULAE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANETARY NEBULAE
RED GIANT STARS
RED SHIFT
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STARS