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Feibelman, W. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Feibelman, W. A..

At least 55 records · Page 3
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NASA NTRS1982

Ultraviolet shell formation at V1016 Cygni

A recent 330 minute high-resolution International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) spectrogram of V1016 Cygni shows splitting of the 1550 A component of the C IV resonance doublet, suggesting that a nebular shell is in the process of formation. An expansion velocity of 15 km/s is indicated by the IUE data and corresponds to the low range encountered with normal planetary nebulae, but IUE data of V1016 Cyg, taken approximately one year earlier, do not show split C IV lines. The recent IUE observations are consistent with VLA contour maps at 1.3 cm made by Newell and Hjellming (1981) and by Hjellming and Bignell (1982) that morphologically show an extended shell-type object. Thus, V1016 Cyg may have undergone an event which forms a planetary nebula.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

IUE observations of proto-planetary and variable planetary nebulae. I - V1016 Cygni, HM Sagittae, and HBV 475. II - A search for variability in IC 4997 and NGC 6905

The IUE satellite has undertaken UV observations of the proto-planetary nebulae V1016 Cyg, HM Sge, and HBV 475, yielding emission line fluxes, line ratios, line profiles, electron densities, and distances from these objects. While levels of increasing excitation and ionization as a function of time are shown by the data for the first two nebulae, the trend for HBV 475 is found to lead in the opposite direction. The formation of a shell is suggested by dramatic changes in the HM Sge UV line profiles over the last four years, including the disappearance of W-R features and the incipient splitting of the semi-forbidden C III 1909 A line. An additional IUE search for UV variability in the planetary nebulae IC 4997 and NGC 6905 has yielded emission line fluxes, line ratios and profiles, and central star temperatures, as well as stratification effects data for several ions in NGC 6905

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

IUE observations of the peculiar star RX Puppis

The first set of high-dispersion UV observations of RX Pup are presented. Anomalous line profile structure observed in a number of high-excitation emission lines is discussed in context with a model that includes streams and complex mass motions in the system. Anomalies in high-excitation lines suggest dynamic activity in circumstellar material that probably has the form of rings and/or gas streamers between the cool giant and the hot companion. The continuum in low dispersion is fairly flat around 1200-2000 and rises toward longer wavelengths, and cannot be due to a star earlier than A0 II. Alternatively, it may be from an accretion disk. Photoionizing radiation may be due to the presence of an unseen, hot subdwarf with most probable effective temperature 75,000-90,000 K. Alternatively, it may be due to an accretion disk around a secondary with boundary layer temperature about 100,000 K.

Kafatos, M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A brightening of the symbiotic variable SY Muscae

The symbiotic variable SY Muscae has been observed with IUE in September 1980 and June 1981 and in the photographic region in May 1981. The entire ultraviolet spectrum brightened between September and June by about a factor of 5. The spectrum shows high excitation including emission from N v and high electron density, about 10-billion per cu cm as determined from various line ratios in the ultraviolet. The optical spectrum is dominated by permitted lines; even forbidden O III is very weak again indicating high density in the ionized region. The increase in ultraviolet continuum and line emission may be due to enhanced mass transfer from the cool star whose period is 623d and whose maximum was predicted to occur very close to the time of the June 1981 observations. Alternatively the hot star and much of the emitting gas could have been in eclipse in September 1980.

Michalitsianos, A. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

E/B - V/ extinction values for 24 planetary nebulae derived from IUE data

Excellent agreement was found for E(B - V) values for nine planetary nebulae observed in common by IUE and ANS, derived from a strong 2200A absorption feature. E(B - V) values for seven additional objects with moderately strong 2200A absorption were determined. A third group of eight planetary nebulae for which the 2200A absorption feature is marginal or absent had E(B - V) extinctions determined from the observed He II I(1640A)/I(4686A) ratio. A comparison with optical and radio data is included.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ultraviolet observations of four symbiotic stars

Observations were obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) of four symbiotic stars. The UV spectra of YY Her, SY Mus, CL Sco, and BX Mon are characterized by varying degrees of thermal excitation. These low resolution spectra have been analyzed in terms of line-blanketed model atmospheres of early A, B, and F type stars in order to identify the nature of the hot companion in these systems. The expected emission from early main sequence stars does not fully explain the observed distribution of UV continuum energy over the entire IUE spectral range (1200-3200 A). More likely the observed continuum may be originating from an accretion disk and/or hot subdwarf that photoionizes circumstellar material, and gives rise to the high excitation lines that have been detected. The Bowen fluorescent excited lines of O III in SY Mus exhibit slightly broadened profiles that suggest possible turbulent motions in an extended circumstellar cloud with characteristic velocities of approximately 300 km/s.

Michalitsianos, A. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Hot wind from Gamma/2/ Velorum observed in the ultraviolet carbon lines

The close binary system Gamma(2) Vel, consisting of a WC8 and an O9 I star, has been observed in the ultraviolet at various phases. Preliminary analysis of selected data shows that the temperature of the stellar wind from this binary increases outward. This suggests that an additional source of energy other than radiation pressure may exist for the wind. The mass flow occurs in all directions from the binary. However, there is evidence of an increase in the mass flow through the third Lagrangian point, although from the extant data it is not possible to decide whether or not a similar increase in the mass outflow occurs through the second Lagrangian point. There is also evidence of mass surge, which probably is independent of orbital phase.

Kondo, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Saturn's E-ring in the red spectral region

Observations of the 1966 edge-on presentation of Saturn's E-ring in the red spectral region are presented. Techniques to suppress the glare from the planet are described. The E-ring profile does not exhibit a maximum near the orbit of Enceladus in 1966. Historical comments concerning the E-ring are included to illustrate that important planetary work can be done by ground-based observations.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The planetary nebula NGC 6826

Monochromatic photographs have established the NGC 6826 nebula as the third member of a group of very rare triple-shell planetaries (Feibelman, 1971, 1974). Kaler (1974) also characterized NGC 6826 as a giant halo planetary. Numerous errors and confusing statements regarding its size, structure and stratification are discussed, and the correct dimensions of the nebula are reported: the inner ring is 12.7 arcsec x 8.7 arcsec (Feibelman, 1971); the outer ring is 27 arcsec x 24 arcsec according to Curtis (1918), 25.7 arcsec x 24.4 arcsec according to Feibelman (1971), and 36 arcsec x 36 arcsec according to Coleman et al. (1975). The halo measurements range in diameter from 110 arcsec (Duncan, 1937) to 130 arcsec (Kaler, 1974) to 142 arcsec (Millikan, 1974). Values for the distance of NGC 6826 range from 0.75-1.16 kpc (Cahn and Kaler, 1971) to 2.265 kpc (Cudworth, 1974).

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Electron densities for 10 planetary nebulae derived from the semiforbidden C III lambda 1907/1909 ratio. II

Electron densities for IC 351, IC 2165, J900, IC 3568, NGC 6644, NGC 6891, IC 4997, NGC 7009, Hu 1-2, and IC 5217 are derived from high-dispersion semiforbidden C III spectrograms. For seven of these nebulae, the derived electron density is larger than the values derived from either surface brightness measurements or forbidden line ratios. Only one object, Hu 1-2, shows pronounced splitting of the semiforbidden C III emission lines due to a large expansion velocity.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

HM Sagittae - Symbiotic cousin of the RS CVn stars

In the brief time since its brightening in 1975, the optical spectrum of HM Sagittae has shown considerable variation in both its general characteristics and relative line intensity ratios. The observations place HM Sagittae in a small class of objects which are thought to be proto-planetary nebulae, of which V 1016 Cygni is the prototype. Attention is given to derived density and temperature, helium abundance and nebular mass, and an evolutionary scenario. The considered observations show a decrease in the intensity of the continuum and a continuation of the trend toward higher excitation in the spectrum of HM Sagittae. Parallels are seen in the development of this object and V 1016 Cygni, with the implication that the trend toward higher excitation is expected to continue.

Blair, W. P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Molecular hydrogen ion /H2+/ absorption in planetary nebulae

Several IUE spectra of planetary nebulae show an absorption feature shortward of 1500 A which is believed to be due to H2(+). The nebulae are excited by stars of spectral type O3-O7 or continuum, and all but one have double-shell structure.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An atlas of emission line fluxes of planetary nebulae in the 1150-3200 A region

Emission line fluxes for 28 planetary nebulae are presented. The nebulae were chosen to cover a wide range of excitation classes, apparent diameters, location in the sky, and types of central stars. All objects were observed in the low dispersion mode of the IUE spectrographs, using the large entrance aperture.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ultraviolet observations of tau/4/ Serpentis /M5 IIb - IIIa/

IUE data of this late giant reveal strong Mg II resonance doublet emission that in high dispersion exhibits reversed symmetric h and k line profile emission, suggesting that material ejected from the surface forms a low excitation expanding circumstellar shell. The weak continuum is identified as being a combination of possibly stellar continuum and blended Fe II features of multiplets. The UV spectra does not suggest the presence of a hot companion as believed to exist in symbiotic stars, because a number of high excitation lines such as C IV and He II are not observed in the short wavelength range. The UV and Mg II line emission is most likely the result of the M giant having undergone an eruptive event in which a moderate excitation shell heated by hydromagnetic shocks dominates the UV emission. The general properties of the circumstellar shell are obtained from the Mg II line profiles.

Kafatos, M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Blackbody curves for the IUE spectral range lambda 1150 to lamda 3200 from 6,000 to 200,000 K

Two sets of blackbody curves are presented for the wavelength region covering the international ultraviolet explorer spectrographs. One set is normalized to unity at 3200 A, the other is normalized at 1900 A for those astronomers primarily interested in data for the SWP range. The blackbody curves extend from 1150 to 3200 A and cover the temperature range from 6,000 to 200,000K.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Saturn's E ring revisited

Images of the E ring of Saturn obtained by the image processing of photographs of the 1966 edge-on presentation of the planet's ring plane are presented. Two methods of image enhancement were used: scanning with an image quantizer operated in the derivative mode to enhance contrast and computerized subtraction of a circularly symmetric image of the overexposed Saturn disk. Further photographic and CCD observation confirming the existence of the ring extending to twice the diameter of the A ring, which was not detected by the Pioneer 11 imaging photopolarimeter, is indicated.

Feibelman, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Reversal of the /O III/lambda 4363/H sub gamma lambda 4340 ratio in the planetary nebula IC 4997

Five image-tube spectrograms of the planetary nebula IC 4997 obtained during August 1977 show that the intensity forbidden ratio O III 4363 A/H-gamma 4340 A was equal to unity, but a sixth one obtained in April 1978 showed the ratio to be 0.91. These results represent a significant increase in the intensity ratio, which had been declining from 1895 to 1962 (when it was considerably less than unity), and is interpreted as resulting from a gradual increase in temperature of the nebula's central star accompanied by a transient event which led to a temporarily high value for the ratio in mid-1977.

Feibelman, W. A.↗