Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 imaging of XZ Tauri: Time evolution of a Herbig-Haro bow shock

John E. Krist, Karl R. Stapelfeldt, Christopher J. Burrows, J. Jeff Hester, Alan M. Watson, Gilda E. Ballester, John T. Clarke, David Crisp, Robin W. Evans, John S. Gallagher, Richard E. Griffiths, John G. Hoessel, Jon A. Holtzman, Jeremy R. Mould, Paul Scowen, John T. Trauger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report observations of dramatic morphological changes in the extremely young Herbig-Haro object ejected by the pre-main-sequence binary XZ Tauri. Hubble Space Telescope images taken in 1995 showed a filled bubble of emission nebulosity extending 4″ north-northeast of the system in the direction of a previously known jet. New images obtained in 1998 show that the bubble has undergone a remarkable transition into a limb-brightened structure as it continues its motion away from the binary. The new images suggest that we may be witnessing the initial formation of the postshock cooling zone in a newly emerging Herbig-Haro bow shock system, probably accompanied by significant temporal evolution in the nebula's emission line spectrum.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L35-L38
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume515
Issue number1 PART 2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 10 1999

Keywords

  • Binaries: close
  • Circumstellar matter
  • ISM: jets and outflows
  • Stars: individual (XZ Tauri)
  • stars: pre-main-sequence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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