Abstract

PHILLIPS, J. P.. Using planetary nebulae to probe the structure of the galactic thin disk. Rev. mex. astron. astrofis [online]. 2005, vol.41, n.2, pp.407-414. ISSN 0185-1101.

Most planetary nebulae appear to arise from progenitors with mass M_PG ≈ 1 M_๏. One would therefore expect them to be closely associated with stars located within the galactic thin disk. This has been confirmed through a series of recent estimates of scale height, which imply values z₀(PNe) of order ~ 220 pc. We shall show, in the following, that it is also possible to evaluate the variation of z₀(PNe) with galactocentric distance R. Although such an analysis is subject to several uncertainties, including those associated with the distances to these outflows, it is nevertheless possible to demonstrate that z₀(PNe) increases with increasing R. This spatial "flaring" is consistent with what is known of various other disk components.

Keywords : ISM [Jets and outflows]; Planetary nebulae [General].

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