Hubble Space TelescopeObservations of Planetary Nebulae in the Magellanic Clouds. VII. Cycle 3 and Archive Narrowband [Oiii] 500.7 nanometer Imaging

Abstract

We present the continuation of our analysis of narrowband [O III] images, obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), of planetary nebulae (PNs) in the Magellanic Clouds. Six objects, five in the Large Magellanic Cloud, are observed as part of the General Observer program. An additional 15 objects are retrieved from the HST archive. The majority of the images are obtained prior to the first maintanence and refurbishment mission and are dominated by nebular [O III] 500.7 nm emission: the PN central stars are generally not seen. The raw images are deconvolved using 100 iterations of the Richardson-Lucy image restoration algorithm. The nebular dimensions and morphologies are determined. The nebular dynamical ages are derived using [O III] 500.7 nm expansion velocities from the literature. Using the techniques presented in Paper IV, the measured nebular ages are compared to theoretical evolutionary ages for H-burning and He-burning PN nuclei. Approximately 50% of the PN central stars are He burners in both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

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