Open AccessThe Planetary Nebula Spectrograph: The Green Light for Galaxy Kinematics
Author(s) -
N. G. Douglas,
M. Arnaboldi,
K. C. Freeman,
Konrad Kuijken,
M. R. Merrifield,
Aaron J. Romanowsky,
K. Taylor,
M. Capaccioli,
T. S. Axelrod,
R. Gilmozzi,
John Hart,
G. Bloxham,
Damien Jones
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
publications of the astronomical society of the pacific
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.294
H-Index - 172
eISSN - 1538-3873
pISSN - 0004-6280
DOI - 10.1086/342765
Subject(s) - planetary nebula , spectrograph , physics , astronomy , galaxy , astrophysics , virgo cluster , cosmic distance ladder , william herschel telescope , telescope , emission nebula , reflection nebula , stars , galaxy cluster , spectral line , redshift
Planetary nebulae are now well established as probes of galaxy dynamics andas standard candles in distance determinations. Motivated by the need toimprove the efficiency of planetary nebulae searches and the speed with whichtheir radial velocities are determined, a dedicated instrument - the PlanetaryNebulae Spectrograph or PN.S - has been designed and commissioned at the 4.2mWilliam Herschel Telescope. The high optical efficiency of the spectrographresults in the detection of typically ~ 150 PN in galaxies at the distance ofthe Virgo cluster in one night of observations. In the same observation theradial velocities are obtained with an accuracy of ~ 20 km/sComment: Accepted by PASP, to appear November 2002; the figures have been degraded for archival purpose
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