A Detailed Spatiokinematic Model of the Conical Outflow of the Multipolar Planetary Nebula, NGC 7026

TL;DR

This paper develops a detailed 3D structural and kinematic model of the complex multipolar planetary nebula NGC 7026, integrating high-resolution spectra, HST images, and X-ray data to understand its outflow dynamics and X-ray emission features.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive 3D model of NGC 7026's structure and kinematics, combining spectral, imaging, and X-ray data for the first time.

Findings

NGC 7026 has a symmetrical structure with three lobe-pairs and four knot sets.

X-ray emission is confined to the closed northern lobes and terminates abruptly in the SE lobe.

The fast wind escapes through an open SE lobe, causing rapid cooling of X-ray emission.

Abstract

We present an extensive, long-slit, high-resolution coverage of the complex planetary nebula (PN), NGC 7026. We acquired ten spectra using the Manchester Echelle Spectrometer at San Pedro Martir Observatory in Baja California, Mexico, and each shows exquisite detail, revealing the intricate structure of this object. Incorporating these spectra into the 3-dimensional visualization and kinematic program, SHAPE, and using HST images of NGC 7026, we have produced a detailed structural and kinematic model of this PN. NGC 7026 exhibits remarkable symmetry consisting of three lobe-pairs and four sets of knots, all symmetrical about the nucleus and displaying a conical outflow. Comparing the 3-D structure of this nebula to recent, XMM-Newton X-ray observations, we investigate the extended X-ray emission in relation to the nebular structure. We find that the X-ray emission, while confined to the closed, northern lobes of this PN, shows an abrupt termination in the middle of the SE lobe, which our long slit data shows to be open. This is where the shocked, fast wind seems to be escaping the interior of the nebula and the X-ray emission rapidly cools in this region.