Expansion Velocities of Southern Planetary Nebulae K.C. Sahu

Abstract

We have undertaken a programme of kinematic study of southern planetary nebulae by obtaining high-resolution (R ≥ 50,000) spectra, using the ESO 1.5-m telescope + the Coudé Echelle Spectrograph. As first results of this study, this paper presents previously unknown expansion velocities of 16 planetary nebulae. This result increases the total number of planetary nebulae for which the expansion velocities are now known by about 10%. Further, reliable distance measurements and other physical properties are available for most of these sources. Hence this sample significantly improves the previously available data for statistical analysis related to the dynamics and evolution of planetary nebulae. Some preliminary results based on such statistical analysis are presented. The details of the results will be published in Astron. Astrophys.