Imaging the Bipolar Nebula around HM Sagittae

Abstract

Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Camera UV images are presented for HM Sge showing a bipolar optical nebula similar to that in R Aquarii and RX Puppis. The nebula extends to a distance of 0.174" with a P.A. of 135 degrees inside a faint halo extending to a radius of 0.28". A kinematic distance to HM Sge based on positions of features in the nebula is found to be 1.77 +/- 0.1 kpc. Comparisons between our UV images, radio maps taken in 1982 and IUE spectra all demonstrate that this system is still undergoing dramatic changes. (SECTION: Interstellar Medium and Nebulae)