Internal Proper-Motions in the Eskimo Nebula

TL;DR

This study measures the internal proper motions of the Eskimo Nebula using Hubble Space Telescope images over 7.695 years, revealing its expansion and enabling a 3D model-based distance estimate of 1300 parsecs.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of proper motions in NGC 2392 using two methods, selecting the more reliable one, and combines these with spectroscopic data for a 3D understanding.

Findings

Confirmed nebula expansion through proper motion measurements.

Estimated the distance to the Eskimo Nebula as approximately 1300 parsecs.

Developed a velocity pattern interpretation using criss-cross mapping.

Abstract

We present measurements of internal proper motions at more than five hundred positions of NGC 2392, the Eskimo Nebula, based on images acquired with WFPC2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope at two epochs separated by 7.695 years. Comparison of the two observations shows clearly the expansion of the nebula. We measured the amplitude and direction of the motion of local structures in the nebula by determining their relative shift during that interval. In order to assess the potential uncertainties in the determination of proper motions in this object, and in general, the measurements were performed using two different methods, used previously in the literature. We compare the results from the two methods, and to perform the scientific analysis of the results we choose one, the cross-correlation method, as the more reliable. We go on to perform a "criss-cross" mapping analysis on the proper motion vectors which helps in the interpretation of the velocity pattern. Combining our results on the proper motions with radial velocity measurements obtained from high resolution spectroscopic observations, and employing an existing 3D model, we estimate the distance to the nebula as 1300 pc.