A Multi-Wavelength Study of the Symbiotic Mira HM Sge with SOFIA & HST
Steven Goldman1,2, Ravi Sankrit1, Ed Montiel2, Sean Garner2, Nathan Wolthius2 , Nicole Karnath2,3,4
1 Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA
2 SOFIA-USRA, NASA Ames Research Center, MS 232-12, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
3 Space Science Institute, 4765 Walnut St, Suite B Boulder, CO 80301, USA
4 Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Figure 4: New FORCAST photometry and grism spectroscopy of HM Sge, along
with archival mid-IR spectra from IRAS and ISO [4].
FORCAST: Photometry and spectroscopy in the mid-IR allow us to
characterize the silicate dust. Our new and archival observations
suggest that the evolution of the AGB star after its outburst is
swift with little to no major changes after a period of a couple
years (Fig. 4).
SOFIA OBSERVATORY (PID: 75_0057)
WFC3: We have used high angular resolution HST/WFC3 narrow-
band images in [N ii] and [O iii] to reveal the morphology of HM
Sge’s ionized gas and jet. we detect three main [N II] nebular
features that were detected 22 years ago (Fig. 2). The movement
of these features with respect to comparable data taken in 1999
suggest outflows speeds of 38 km s−1 and 78 km s−1.
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE (PID: 16492)
Figure 3: Our new COS FUV spectrum of HM Sge
Figure 2: HST WFC3 [N II] image of HM Sge and the surrounding nebula artistically
enhanced to accentuate features, and an illustration of the system.
HM Sge: We have targeted the dusty Symbiotic Mira
system HM Sge with four instruments from the IR to
the UV using Hubble and SOFIA. We have used these
observations along with archival observations to study
how the system has been evolving after its 1975
nova-like outburst.
TAKE-AWAYS:
• Dust production from a Symbiotic Mira returned within a couple years of a
novae-like outburst, and remains uninterrupted for the last ~40 years.
COS: We have used COS to observe HM Sge in the NUV and FUV
(Fig. 3). A rich emission line spectrum is detected, sampling a
wide range of ionization states in the gas, from Fe+ and C++ to Ne
IV+ and O V+. The presence of highly ionized gas provides evidence
of energy input from shocks in addition to photoionization by the
hot WD. Comparing this to IUE data from 1989 shows that the
nebular environment continues to steadily relax after the system’s
1975 outburst. The data suggest however, that the temperature of
the white dwarf has increased from 200,000 K in 1989 to now
greater than 250,000 K.
EXES: We have detected ro-vibrational water emission in a
symbiotic system for the first time using new EXES high spectral
resolution infrared spectroscopy. The features, detected in
emission over three epochs, have velocities consistent with the
systemic velocity but do not show any clear evidence of high
velocity outflows. (Fig. 5).
Figure 5: Infrared water emission features that probe the kinematics of material
around HM Sge.
Steve Goldman
[email protected]
s-goldman.github.io
Figure 1. HST WFC3 [N II] images of HM Sge and its surrounding nebula artistically
enhanced to accentuate features, and an illustration of the system.
• HM Sge shows complex nebular features and
outflows that may be linked to jets as well as
multiple previous outbursts.
© 2023 Brittany C. Bennett. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
References:
[1] Dokuchaeva, O. D. 1976, Information Bulletin on Variable Stars, 1189, 1 [2] Eyres et al. 2001, ApJ, 551, 512
[3] Murset, U., & Nussbaumer, H. 1994, A&A, 282,586 [4] Schild et al. 2001, A&A, 378, 146