NGC 2366 : An optical search for possible supernova remnants

Abstract

The results of an optical search for supernova remnants (SNRs) in the nearby irregular galaxy NGC 2366 are presented. We took interference filter images and collected spectral data in three epochs with the f/7.7 1.5 m Russian Turkish Telescope (RTT150) at TÜBİTAK National Observatory (TUG) located in Antalya, Turkey. The continuum-subtracted Hα and continuum-subtracted [S ii]λλ6716, 6731 images and their ratios were used for the identification of SNRs. With [S ii]/Hα ≥ 0.4 criteria, four possible SNR candidates were identified in NGC 2366 with [S ii]/Hα ratios of ~ (0.68, 0.57, 0.55 and 0.75), Hα intensities of ~ (2.10, 0.36, 0.14, 0.11)×10−15 erg cm−2 s−1 [S ii]λ6716/λ6731 average flux ratios of ~ (1.01 and 1.04), electron densities of Ne ~ (582 and 513) cm−3 and [O iii] λ5007/Hβ λ4861 ~ (3.6 and 2.6) line ratio values are obtained for two of the SNR candidates. A shock velocity Vs of 80 ≤ Vs ≤ 100 km s−1 is reported. The spectral parameters are obtained for the first time for these possible SNR candidates. The locations of the four SNRs obtained here are found to be consistent with optical and radio results reported so far. One of the sources categorised earlier by XMM-Newton observations as an extended X-ray source position is found to be consistent with one of four possible SNR candidates reported here.