2011/11/17 by David Jones, D. Jones, D. L. Mitchell +7 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Binary number #Binary star #Binary system #Bipolar nebula #Emission nebula #Nebula #Physics #Planetary nebula #Protoplanetary nebula #Reflection nebula #Star (game theory) #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.SR
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.20192.x
10 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS
arxiv created 2011/11/17 · openalex publication_date 2012/01/18 · arxiv updated 2015/06/03 · openalex created_date 2021/02/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present the first detailed spatiokinematical analysis and modelling of the planetary nebula Shapley 1 (Sp 1), which is known to contain a close-binary central star system. Close-binary central stars have been identified as a likely source of shaping in planetary nebulae, but with little observational support to date. Deep narrow-band imaging in the light of [O iii] λ5007 Å suggests the presence of a large bow shock to the west of the nebula, indicating that it is undergoing the first stages of an interaction with the interstellar medium. Further narrow-band imaging in the light of Hα+ [N ii] λ6584 Å combined with long-slit observations of the Hα emission have been used to develop a spatiokinematical model of Sp 1. The model clearly reveals Sp 1 to be a bipolar, axisymmetric structure viewed almost pole-on. The symmetry axis of the model nebula is within a few degrees of perpendicular to the orbital plane of the central binary system – strong evidence that the central close-binary system has played an important role in shaping the nebula. Sp 1 is one of the very few nebulae to have this link, between nebular symmetry axis and binary plane, shown observationally.