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S. R. Trammell (UNC Charlotte)
We present narrow-band WFPC2 images of the young, bipolar planetary nebula GL 618. Ground-based optical and near-IR imaging of this object reveal two lobes of emission separated by a dark lane. The bipolar lobes act as reflection nebulae, but also produce local emission dominated by low-excitation forbidden lines. Spectropolarimetric and near-IR observations have indicated that the emission produced in the bipolar lobes is indicative of shock heating.
Our new HST images of GL 618 have allowed us to study the detailed morphology of shock-excited emission in the bipolar lobes of this object. These images reveal the presence of three highly collimated outflows emanating from the central regions of GL 618. These outflows dominate the morphology of GL 618 at the high spatial resolution provided by HST. Forbidden line ratios measured in the outflows indicate shock velocities of approximately 80 km s-1. We discuss the significance of the detection of these outflows and the possible origins of these features.