Optical Discovery of an Apparent Galactic Supernova Remnant G159.6+7.3

TL;DR

Deep optical imaging and spectroscopy reveal a faint, high-latitude supernova remnant through Balmer-dominated filaments, suggesting many such remnants may be undetected in radio and X-ray surveys.

Contribution

First optical detection of a high-latitude Galactic supernova remnant using Balmer-dominated filaments and spectroscopy.

Findings

Identification of a faint Halpha shell as a supernova remnant.

Spectroscopic evidence of Balmer-dominated shocks.

Possible undetected population of high-latitude SNRs.

Abstract

Deep Halpha images of portions of a faint 3 x 4 degree Halpha shell centered at l = 159.6 deg, b = 7.3 deg seen on the Virginia Tech Spectral Line Survey images revealed the presence of several thin emission filaments along its eastern limb. Low-dispersion optical spectra of two of these filaments covering the wavelength range of 4500 - 7500 Angstroms show narrow Halpha line emissions with velocities around -170 +/- 30 km/s. Both the morphology and spectra of these filaments are consistent with a Balmer dominated shock interpretation and we propose these optical filaments indicate that the large Halpha emission shell is a previously unrecognized supernova remnant. ROSAT All Sky Survey images indicate the possible presence of extremely faint, diffuse emission from the shell's central region. The shell's location more than seven degrees off the Galactic plane in a region of relatively low interstellar density may account for the lack of any reported associated nonthermal radio emissions. The rare discovery of a Galactic SNR at optical wavelengths suggests that additional high latitude SNRs may have escaped radio and X-ray detection.