J-PLUS: Tools to identify compact planetary nebulae in the Javalambre and southern photometric local Universe surveys

Abstract

Context. From the approximately ∼3,500 planetary nebulae (PNe) discovered in our Galaxy, only 14 are known to be members of the Galactic halo. Nevertheless, a systematic search for halo PNe has never been performed. Aims. In this study, we present new photometric diagnostic tools to identify compact PNe in the Galactic halo by making use of the novel 12-filter system projects, J-PLUS (Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey) and S-PLUS (Southern-Photometric Local Universe Survey). Methods. We reconstructed the IPHAS (Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) Photometric Hα Survey of the Northern Galactic Plane) diagnostic diagram and propose four new ones using i) the J-PLUS and S-PLUS synthetic photometry for a grid of photo-ionisation models of halo PNe, ii) several observed halo PNe, as well as iii) a number of other emission-line objects that resemble PNe. All colour-colour diagnostic diagrams are validated using two known halo PNe observed by J-PLUS during the scientific verification phase and the first data release (DR1) of S-PLUS and the DR1 of J-PLUS. Results. By applying our criteria to the DR1s (∼1,190 deg 2 ), we identified one PN candidate. However, optical follow-up spectroscopy proved it to be a H ii region belonging to the UGC 5272 galaxy. Here, we also discuss the PN and two H ii galaxies recovered by these selection criteria. Finally, the cross-matching with the most updated PNe catalogue (HASH) helped us to highlight the potential of these surveys, since we recover all the known PNe in the observed area. Conclusions. The tools here proposed to identify PNe and separate them from their emission-line contaminants proved to be very efficient thanks to the combination of many colours, even when applied -like in the present work-to an automatic photometric search that is limited to compact PNe.

Catalog of Planetary Nebulae Detected by GALEX and Corollary Optical Surveys

“…The catalog can be used as a starting point to search for compact PNs in GALEX in combination with optical surveys, such as SDSS and Pan-STARRS, by implementing the color cuts described above. Similar studies of compact PNs have been done previously, using photoionization models representing differing ionization/evolutionary stages of PNs and then comparing the synthetic SEDs with photometric surveys (e.g., Vejar et al 2019;Gutiérrez-Soto et al 2020). An analysis of compact and extended PNs using photoionization models will be provided in a forthcoming paper (M. A.…”

“…Therefore, it is possible to find candidate compact PNs or extended PNs for which the nebular flux is included in the aperture with the CSPN flux using the colors r−i < −0.4 and −1 < FUV−NUV<1. This could be a starting point in the search for compact versus extended PNs unresolved in GALEX matched with optical corollary surveys (e.g., Vejar et al 2019;Gutiérrez-Soto et al 2020).…”

Euclid preparation

“…Yuan & Liu 2013, in Sloan Digitial Sky Survey spectra). Gutiérrez-Soto et al (2020) searched the Javalambre and Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey data (J-PLUS and S-PLUS, respectively), using a combination of broad-and narrow-band photometry. However, no additional useful compact PNe could be identified in an area of 1190 deg 2 .…”

The miniJPAS survey: A preview of the Universe in 56 colors

“…They also allow for the identification and chemical characterization of Galactic stellar streams, classical dwarf galaxies, and ultra-faint dwarf galaxies (e.g., Longeard et al 2018;Shipp et al 2018Shipp et al , 2019Chiti et al 2020;Longeard et al 2020). Systems such as planetary nebulae and symbiotic stars, which involve circumstellar ionized gas, are also easily identified and characterized based on the J-spectra (Gutiérrez-Soto et al 2020). The J-PAS photometry can also contribute to the study of stellar populations of Globular Clusters as shown by Bonatto et al (2019) for the GC M15, using J-PLUS Science Verification Data.…”