Origins and Models of Planetary Nebulae, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Galaxies (ISSN 2075-4434).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 2014

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory for Space Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: late stages of stellar evolution; astronomical spectroscopy
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), Beijing 100101, China
Interests: stellar evolution (in particular late-stage evolution); physics and chemistry of planetary nebulae; astronomical spectroscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to present a Special Issue of the scientific journal "Galaxies" that focuses on the origins and models of planetary nebulae. Planetary Nebulae are fascinating astronomical objects that have captivated astronomers for centuries. They are the final stage of evolution for low to intermediate-mass stars and have been observed in various shapes and sizes. The study of Planetary Nebulae has led to significant advancements in understanding stellar evolution, the interstellar medium, and the chemical enrichment of galaxies. This Special Issue brings together leading experts in the field to discuss the latest research on the origins and models of Planetary Nebulae. We hope this collection of articles will provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on this important topic and inspire further research in this exciting field.

Focus: This Special Issue focuses on the origins and models of Planetary Nebulae.

Scope: The Special Issue will cover various topics related to Planetary Nebulae, including their formation, evolution, morphology, and chemical composition. The articles will also explore Planetary Nebulae's role in the interstellar medium's enrichment and galaxies' chemical evolution.

Purpose: This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on Planetary Nebulae and highlight the latest research in this field. The articles will bring together leading experts in the field to discuss their findings and share new insights into the origins and models of Planetary Nebulae. The Special Issue aims to inspire further research in this exciting field and deepen our understanding of the role that Planetary Nebulae play in the universe's evolution.

This Special Issue will supplement existing literature by providing a focused and in-depth exploration of the origins and models of Planetary Nebulae. While there have been numerous studies on Planetary Nebulae, this collection of articles will bring together the latest research and findings in a consolidated manner. By featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, the Special Issue will offer new perspectives and insights that build upon and expand upon the existing literature. The articles in the Special Issue will delve into specific aspects of Planetary Nebulae, such as their formation mechanisms, evolutionary processes, and diverse morphologies. They will also explore the chemical composition of Planetary Nebulae and their role in the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium and galaxies. By presenting a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge, the Special Issue will help consolidate and synthesize existing research, highlighting any gaps or areas for future investigation. Furthermore, the Special Issue will present new findings and provide critical analyses and discussions of existing models and theories. This will allow readers to critically evaluate and compare different approaches and interpretations, contributing to a deeper understanding of the origins and models of Planetary Nebulae. Overall, the Special Issue will be a valuable resource for researchers, students, and enthusiasts interested in this fascinating field, further enriching and supplementing the existing literature.

Dr. Andreas Ritter
Prof. Dr. Xuan Fang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • planetary nebulae
  • nebulae around massive stars
  • nova remnants
  • symbiotic stars
  • shaping mechanisms
  • binary stars

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 29487 KB  
Article
Revealing the Morpho-Kinematics of NGC 2371—A Planetary Nebula with a [WR] Central Star
by Roberto Vázquez, Jesús A. Toalá, Luis F. Miranda, Sandra Ayala, María E. Contreras, Marco A. Gómez-Muñoz, Pedro F. Guillen, Lorenzo Olguín, Gerardo Ramos-Larios, Laurence Sabin and Federico Soto-Badilla
Galaxies 2026, 14(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies14020015 - 27 Feb 2026
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Abstract
We present new high-dispersion optical spectra of the planetary nebula NGC 2371 obtained with the Manchester Echelle Spectrometer at the OAN-SPM 2.1 m telescope, complemented with 3D morpho-kinematic modelling using ShapeX. The data reveal that the present-day morphology of NGC 2371 is [...] Read more.
We present new high-dispersion optical spectra of the planetary nebula NGC 2371 obtained with the Manchester Echelle Spectrometer at the OAN-SPM 2.1 m telescope, complemented with 3D morpho-kinematic modelling using ShapeX. The data reveal that the present-day morphology of NGC 2371 is the outcome of multiple episodic mass-loss events rather than a single outflow. Our best-fitting model simultaneously reproduces the direct images and the Position–Velocity (PV) diagrams, and consists of a barrel-shaped shell with younger polar caps, extended bipolar lobes, and a pair of misaligned low-excitation [N ii] knots interpreted as jet-like ejections. The derived kinematical ages of the main structures, spanning ≃1600 to ≃4400 yr, indicate successive episodes of mass loss with different geometries and timescales. The nearly perpendicular bipolar lobes, the absence of a pronounced waist, and the surface distortions of the large-scale structures cannot be explained solely by standard axisymmetric wind interactions. Instead, our results point to a combination of shaping agents, including a late thermal pulse (born-again scenario) possibly related to the H-deficient [WR]-type nature of the central star, binary-driven interactions, and episodic jet activity. NGC 2371 thus provides a particularly instructive case where multiple shaping agents may operate, and where some of the relevant physical processes remain only marginally explored in current models of PN formation and evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Origins and Models of Planetary Nebulae, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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27 pages, 10121 KB  
Review
Current Unsolved Problems in Planetary Nebulae Research
by Sun Kwok, Bruce Balick, You-Hua Chu, Bruce J. Hrivnak, Alberto López, Quentin Parker, Raghvendra Sahai and Albert Zijlstra
Galaxies 2026, 14(2), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies14020030 - 9 Apr 2026
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Abstract
While there has been significant progress in our understanding of the origin and evolution of planetary nebulae in the last 50 years, there remain several unsolved problems. These include the true 3D morphological structure of the nebulae, origin of multipolar nebulae, the dust [...] Read more.
While there has been significant progress in our understanding of the origin and evolution of planetary nebulae in the last 50 years, there remain several unsolved problems. These include the true 3D morphological structure of the nebulae, origin of multipolar nebulae, the dust and molecular distribution relative to the optical nebulosity, large-scale structures outside of the main nebulae, the relevance of binarity to planetary nebulae evolution, and a precise definition of the planetary nebula phenomenon. The long-standing problem of elemental abundance discrepancy still remains unsolved. In this paper, we summarize current observations related to these problems and present possible future directions to tackle them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Origins and Models of Planetary Nebulae, 2nd Edition)
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