No Arabic abstract
New narrow-band HAlpha imaging and subsequent optical spectra confirm G315.1+2.7, a previously identified candidate supernova remnant (SNR), as a bona-fide Galactic SNR. Present observations are based on independent discovery of filamentary optical emission nebulosity on images of the AAO/UKST HAlpha survey of the southern Galactic plane which were found to co-incide with existing multi-frequency radio detections. Separate medium and high dispersion spectra were taken across two locations of this 11 arcmin N-S aligned optical filament. The resulting spectral signatures were found to strongly confirm the SNR identification based on standard emission line ratio discriminators which characterise emission from shock heated gas. The average observed ratios of [SII]/HAlpha=1.13, [NII]/HAlpha=1.43 and [SII] 6717/6731=1.46, together with the simultaneous detection of [OII] at 3727A, [OIII] 5007A and [OI] 6300A, all point to an SNR origin of the observed optical emission. Careful scrutiny of the low-resolution but high sensitivity SHASSA HAlpha survey also revealed a low-level but distinct optical emission arc. This arc precisely correlates with the large, 2.5 degree, north-south angular extent of the proposed new SNR also seen as a fractured structure in the extant radio data. G315.1+2.7 was detected previously at 2400 and 4800 MHz and at 408 and 1420 MHz. We also identified associated radio emission at 843 MHz from the now publicly available SUMSS survey. On the basis of optical imaging and spectra and radio observations at five frequencies, we identify G315.1+2.7 as a new Galactic SNR. The large projected angular extent of the new remnant, together with the distance estimate of ~1.7 kpc and diameter of ~80pc, make G315.1+2.7 one of the largest remnants known.
We present a catalogue of 18 new Galactic supernova remnants (SNRs) uncovered in the optical regime as filamentary emissions and extended nebulosities on images of the Anglo Australian Observatory/United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope (AAO/UKST) HAlpha survey of the southern Galactic plane. Our follow-up spectral observations confirmed classical optical SNR emission lines for these 18 structures via detection of very strong [SII] at 6717 and 6731A relative to HAlpha ([SII]/HAlpha> 0.5). Morphologically, 10 of these remnants have coherent, extended arc or shell structures, while the remaining objects are more irregular in form but clearly filamentary in nature, typical of optically detected SNRs. In 11 cases there was a clear if not complete match between the optical and radio structures with H filamentary structures registered inside and along the presumed radio borders. Additionally, ROSAT X-ray sources were detected inside the optical/radio borders of 11 of these new remnants and 3 may have an associated pulsar. The multi-wavelength imaging data and spectroscopy together present strong evidence to confirm identification of 18 new, mostly senile Galactic SNRs. This includes G288.7-6.3, G315.1+2.7 and G332.5-5.6, identified only as possible remnants from preliminary radio observations. We also confirm existence of radio quiet but optically active supernova remnants.
The UK Schmidt Telescope (UKST) of the Anglo-Australian Observatory completed a narrow-band H-alpha plus [NII] 6548, 6584A survey of the Southern Galactic Plane and Magellanic Clouds in late 2003. The survey, which was the last UKST wide-field photographic survey, and the only one undertaken in a narrow band, is now an on-line digital data product of the Wide-Field Astronomy Unit of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (ROE). The survey utilised a high specification, monolithic H-alpha interference band-pass filter of exceptional quality. In conjunction with the fine grained Tech-Pan film as a detector it has produced a survey with a powerful combination of area coverage (4000 square degrees), resolution (~1 arcsecond) and sensitivity (<=5 Rayleighs), reaching a depth for continuum point sources of R~20.5. The main survey consists of 233 individual fields on a grid of centres separated by 4 degrees at declinations below +2 degrees and covers a swathe approximately 20 degrees wide about the Southern Galactic Plane. The original survey films were scanned by the SuperCOSMOS measuring machine at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh to provide the on-line digital atlas called the SuperCOSMOS H-alpha Survey (SHS). We present the background to the survey, the key survey characteristics, details and examples of the data product, calibration process, comparison with other surveys and a brief description of its potential for scientific exploitation.
We present results from an Halpha emission-line survey in a one square degree area centered on the Orion Nebula Cluster, obtained with the Wide Field Grism Spectrograph-2 on the 2.2-meter telescope of the University of Hawaii. We identified 587 stars with Halpha emission, 99 of which, located mainly in the outer regions of the observed area, have not appeared in previous Halpha surveys. We determined the equivalent width (EW) of the line, and based on it classified 372 stars as classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) and 187 as weak line T Tauri stars (WTTS). Simultaneous r, i photometry indicates a limiting magnitude of r ~ 20 mag, but the sample is incomplete at r > 17 mag. The surface distribution of the Halpha emission stars reveals a clustered and a dispersed population, the former consisting of younger and more massive young stars than the latter. Comparison of the derived EWs with those found in the literature indicates variability of the Halpha line. We found that the typical amplitudes of the variability are not greater than a factor 2-3 in the most cases. We identified a subgroup of low-EW stars with infrared signatures indicative of optically thick accretion disks. We studied the correlations between the equivalent width and other properties of the stars. Based on literature data we examined several properties of our CTTS and WTTS subsamples and found significant differences in mid-infrared color indices, average rotational periods, and spectral energy distribution characteristics of the subsamples.
Identified radio supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Galaxy comprise an incomplete sample of the SNR population due to various selection effects. ROSAT performed the first all-sky survey with an imaging X-ray telescope, and thus provides another window for finding SNRs and compact objects that may reside within them. Performing a search for extended X-ray sources in the ROSAT all-sky survey database about 350 objects were identified as SNR candidates in recent years (Busser 1998). Continuing this systematic search, we have reanalysed the ROSAT all-sky survey (RASS) data of these candidates and correlated the results with radio surveys like NVSS, ATNF, Molonglo and Effelsberg. A further correlation with SIMBAD and NED was performed for subsequent identification purposes. About 50 of the 350 candidates turned out to be likely galaxies or clusters of galaxies. We found 14 RASS sources which are very promising SNR candidates and are currently subject of further follow-up studies. We will provide the details of the identification campaign and present first results.
We present compelling evidence for confirmation of a Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) candidate, G332.5-5.6, based initially on identification of new, filamentary, optical emission line nebulosity seen in the arcsecond resolution images from the AAO/UKST HAlpha survey. The extant radio observations and X-ray data which we have independently re-reduced, together with new optical spectroscopy of the large-scale fragmented nebulosity, confirms the identification. Optical spectra, taken across five different, widely separated nebula regions of the remnant as seen on the HAlpha images, show average ratios of [NII]/HAlpha =2.42, [SII]/HAlpha = 2.10, and [SII] 6717/6731 = 1.23, as well as strong [OI] 6300, 6364A and [OII] 3727A emission. These ratios are firmly within those typical of SNRs. Here, we also present the radio-continuum detection of the SNR at 20/13cm from observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). Radio emission is also seen at 4850 MHz, in the PMN survey (Griffith and Wright 1993) and at 843 MHz from the SUMSS survey (Bock, Large and Sadler 1999). We estimate an angular diameter of ~30 arcmin and obtain an average radio spectral index of alpha = -0.6 +- 0.1 which indicates the non-thermal nature of G332.5-5.6. Fresh analysis of existing ROSAT X-ray data in the vicinity also confirms the existence of the SNR. The distance to G332.5-5.6 has been independently estimated by Reynoso and Green (2007) as 3.4 kpc based on measurements of the HI lambda21 cm line seen in absorption against the continuum emission. Our cruder estimates via assumptions on the height of the dust layer (3.1 kpc) and using the Sigma-D relation (4 kpc) are in good agreement.