SNR G279 +1.3: The Other Vela SNR and friends

Following the publication of our deep imaging survey of galactic SNR’s, we were contacted by Professor Rob Fesen about some potential interesting SNRs. One was SNR G279 +1.3, which was recently imaged using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope, which revealed quite extended and filamentary structure in radio wavelengths (see below). There had been some prior published H alpha images which did not show much emission (Stupar & Parker, MNRAS 2009) so we initially focused on OIII emission. As you can see this revealed an amazing extended OIII filamentary structure with numerous shockwaves extending over ~2.5 degrees!

‍

‍

‍Bray and I then embarked on deeper imaging, with Bray obtaining 22.6 hours from Chile with his FSQ106, and I managed to obtain 118 hours from New Zealand to create the final integration. This data was presented at the Supernovas Remnants III conference in Crete, and will be published with our next SNR survey paper.In addition to the incredible SNR structure, there are a few other interesting structures. At the top right there is an unusual structure with central OIII filaments suggesting SNR shocks but with an outer Ha envelope. This structure requires further investigation but we think it is likely an outburst from the main SNR that may be interacting with ISM causing the outer Ha.

‍

‍

There are some further prominent background ionised ISM Ha features including Bran-279, an area of ISM associated with the cluster Pismis 16, and ISM associated with a number of B type stars.  Within this last area of ionised ISM there also appears to be a small planetary nebula candidate for which we are currently awaiting registration.

‍

‍

‍

‍

Many thanks to Prof Rob Fesen for his scientific support and for involving us in this project.