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D.A. Weintraub (Vanderbilt University), J.H. Kastner (Rochester Institute of Technology), D.C. Hines (Steward Observatory), R. Sahai (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
We have used infrared polarimetric imaging with NICMOS to determine the precise position of the star that illuminates the protoplanetary reflection nebula CRL 2688 (the Egg Nebula). The position of this illuminating star, which is found at the location of the polarimetric centroid, is known to an accuracy of ±0.03". The illuminating star cannot be seen in direct light even at 2.0 \mum. In order to illuminate both bipolar lobes yet be invisible in direct light in the near-infrared, the illuminating star must be surrounded by a disk that is optically thick in the near-infrared when viewed nearly edge-on. From the polarimetry map, we have determined the position angle of the polar axis (12\circ) and thus the orientation of the equatorial plane relative to the molecular hydrogen emission seen toward the waist of this nebula.
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