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Nitrogen Deficiency in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Nature volume 237, pages 28–29 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

THE [NII] line at 6584 Å, which flanks Hα at 6563 Å, is often conspicuous in the emission line spectra of gaseous nebulae and galaxies. This juxtaposition allows one to obtain a ratio of line intensities (hereafter called 6584/Hα) that is free from the effects of interstellar reddening. The observations of Henize1 and others show that among galactic planetary nebulae this ratio can range from 0 to nearly 2. On average the ionized nitrogen line is somewhat stronger in diffuse nebulae than in planetaries. Burbidge and Burbidge2 have found that in the nuclei of galaxies the ratio can reach values close to 10.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Warner and Swasey Observatory, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

    N. SANDULEAK

  2. Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

    D. J. MACCONNELL & P. S. HOOVER

Authors
  1. N. SANDULEAK
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  2. D. J. MACCONNELL
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  3. P. S. HOOVER
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SANDULEAK, N., MACCONNELL, D. & HOOVER, P. Nitrogen Deficiency in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Nature 237, 28–29 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/237028a0

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