NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0405
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0405 |
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PI: A/Prof. Q. Parker, Macquarie University/Anglo-Australian Observatory, qap@ics.mq.edu.au
Address: Physics Department, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
CoI: Ms. A. Kovacevic, Macquarie University
CoI: Dr. G. Jacoby, NOAO/WIYN
Title: A new Galactic Bulge Planetary Nebulae Luminosity Function
Abstract: We plan to complete a deep, MOSAIC-II camera, wide-field [OIII] imaging survey of an unprecedented sample of Bulge planetary nebulae (PNe) discovered from the AAO/UKST SuperCosmos H(alpha) Survey of the Southern Galactic Plane(SHS). Our sample size is more than twice that of the previously known Bulge PN population and most other dynamical Bulge tracers. Our existing 100% spectroscopy of these Bulge PNe allow those with detectable [OIII] to be identified to help refine target fields for maximum imaging yields from within the |l| < 5\arcdeg and |b| < 5\arcdeg Bulge region (avoiding the most extincted |b|<=1). These data will provide accurate, integrated [OIII] fluxes for our newly discovered MASH PNe and previously known Bulge PNe. Since this sample represents an unrivaled, essentially co-located PN population at ~8 kpc it provides unprecedented opportunities to define the Galactic Bulge Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function (PNLF), unravel key PNe physical parameters and elucidate inner Galactic structure. These new [OIII] images will also provide accurate angular diameters, which, when combined with the accurate integrated flux of each Bulge PN, can be fed into the powerful, new surface brightness radius distance indicator of Frew & Parker (2007) to reveal sub-trends and further refine this important new relation.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0405 |
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