GRAVITY DISTANCES OF PLANETARY NEBULAE
W. J. Maciel, J. O. Cazetta
Astrophys. Space Sci. 249, 341-352 (1997)
Recent work on the PN classification scheme initially
proposed by Peimbert has shown that "type I" and
"non-type I" objects have markedly different properties.
Type I PN have He and N enrichments, lower heights relative to
the galactic plane, and lower peculiar velocities, while
non-type I nebulae have normal
abundances and increasing heights and peculiar velocities.
This implies some mass and age differences of the different types,
which can be used in order to determine distances to disk
PN. In this work, the behaviour of PN of different types on the
log g x log Teff plane is explored, in view of the fact
that central stars of different masses have different paths on this
diagram. As a result, distances can be derived for some galactic
PN, which can be compared with previous determinations. The possibility
is discussed of establishing a statistical distance scale based on the
population segregation of PN of different Peimbert types.
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