Extragalactic Globular Cluster Planetary Nebulae: Discovery of a Planetary Nebula in the NGC 5128 Globular Cluster G169 Using the Magellan I Baade Telescope

Abstract

We report the discovery of a planetary nebula in the globular cluster G169 of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 5128, based on spectroscopy with the Magellan I Baade 6.5 m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. G169 appears to be a typical metal-rich globular cluster in NGC 5128 with M_V=-8.2. Its planetary nebula also appears to be a typical high-excitation bright planetary in NGC 5128 with m₅₀₀₇=24.3. This is the first time a planetary nebula is found in a globular cluster member of a giant elliptical galaxy. We predict that several new planetary nebulae should be present in the large spectroscopic samples of extragalactic globular clusters becoming available. The scientific potential of the study of extragalactic globular cluster planetary nebulae is discussed. Based on observations collected with the Magellan I Baade telescope at Las Campanas Observatory of the Carnegie Institution, on images obtained from the European Southern Observatory archive, and on images obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope archive.