Sh 2-68 – A Planetary Nebula Leaving it's Mark on the Interstellar Medium

Abstract

Using Hα images from the Southern H-Alpha Sky Survey Atlas (SHASSA) we have discovered a “cometary tail” of ionized matter extending at least 30 arcmin from the main body of the planetary nebula Sh 2-68 (PN G030.6+06.2). This tail is aligned with the proper motion of the central star and is obviously a contrail of material left behind by Sh 2-68 moving in a Galactic Disk orbit. The tail's existence is a direct confirmation of Sh 2-68's interaction with the interstellar medium (ISM) and highlights the possibly important role of the ISM's magnetic field.