| |
 |
| Paper: |
The Egg Nebula (AFGL 2688): Deepening Enigma |
| Volume: |
313, Asymmetrical Planetary Nebulae III |
| Page: |
57 |
| Authors: |
Kastner, J.H.; Soker, N. |
| Abstract: |
Recent observations of the Egg Nebula (AFGL 2688), obtained at
ever-increasing spatial and spectral resolution, have revealed a
perplexing array of phenomena. Many of these phenomena present
challenges to our understanding of this object as an emerging, bipolar
planetary nebula. Here, we consider two particularly intriguing aspects
of the Egg: the peculiar structure and kinematics of its equatorial
regions, and the nature of an apparent widely separated companion to the
central star. In the first case, we use recently acquired Hubble Space
Telescope images to demonstrate that the H2 emission
distributed east and west of the central star is spatially coincident
with a dusty, equatorial disk or torus. The H2 is thus
constrained to lie near the equatorial plane, casting doubt on pure
radial outflow models for the equatorial kinematics. In the second case,
we show that the apparent companion ("Peak A") may be an accreting
white dwarf that has undergone one or more thermonuclear bursts. |
|
|
|
|
|
