H Emission From Point Sources In The Magellanic Clouds

Conclusions

Past H surveys carried out using objective-prism plates have been the source of many interesting stars and nebulae. The UKST does not have the facilities to carry out a useful H-based objective-prism survey, but it can carry out a high-resolution survey for emission-line stars and small nebulae using pairs of direct images taken on TechPan emulsion through the new H filter and the existing standard survey filter. These will be measured using SuperCOSMOS and pixel maps will be compared to reveal objects bright in H. It is expected that such a survey of the LMC will identify faint, low-excitation planetary nebulae that are too weak in [OIII]5007 to have been identified on IIIa-J objective prism surveys, and will generate a catalogue of emission-line stars from which new symbiotic and other composite stars can be found. Also, by extending the sky coverage to the outer parts of the LMC, new outlying H-stars will be identified. This sort of extension can also be applied to the SMC for which a deep modern H survey of its central parts has already been completed. Finally, by digitally adding several films on the same centre, new deep images will be produced from which to survey large areas of the Clouds to even greater depths.

© Copyright Astronomical Society of Australia 1997