New, sub-0.1-arcsec radio maps of two young planetary nebulae

Abstract

Sub-0.1-arcsec maps of the 5-GHz continuum emission from two young planetary nebulae (NGC7027 and BD+303639) have been obtained by combining MERLIN and VLA observations, resulting in the highest spatial resolution radio maps of these (or any) planetary nebulae to date. Small clumps of emission are resolved within the essentially ring-like structure of each nebula. These radio maps are at a very similar spatial resolution to HST WFPC2 images, and thus for the first time it is possible to compare radio and optical images of young planetary nebulae at very high spatial resolution.