Presented are the results of an empirical study of the scattering of starlight in the UV and optical continuum by dust in Orion, plus the distribution of the ionic species of CNO across the face of the nebula. Spectra from the IUE have been combined with ground-based spectrophotometry and CCD imagery. This study of M42 is the most extensive to date.
The distribution of dust and its effects on the scattering of starlight are examined. The variation of scattered light with distance and wavelength has been parameterized and a functional relationship determined.
Abundances for ionic species of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen have been calculated. Several results were uncovered. The C/H abundance in Orion must be lowered by a factor of 3-5 compared to past results. The C/H abundance is constant across the inner 5 arcmin of the nebula as is the C/O ratio.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:RICE/oai:scholarship.rice.edu:1911/13547 |
| Date | January 1991 |
| Creators | Walter, Donald Kim |
| Contributors | Dufour, Reginald J. |
| Source Sets | Rice University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | 127 p., application/pdf |
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