Skip to main content
Contribution to Book
Early Results from the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper Southern Sky Survey
The Dynamic Interstellar Medium: A Celebration of the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey (2011)
  • L. M. Haffner, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • R. J. Reynolds, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • G. J. Madsen, Sydney Institute of Astronomy
  • A. S. Hill, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • K. A. Barger, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • K. P. Jaehnig, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • E. J. Mierkiewicz, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • J. W. Percival, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • N. Chopra, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Abstract
After a successful eleven-year campaign at Kitt Peak, we moved the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper (WHAM) to Cerro Tololo in early 2009. Here we present some of the early data after a few months under southern skies. These maps begin to complete the first all-sky, kinematic survey of the diffuse H-alpha emission from the Milky Way. Much of this emission arises from the Warm Ionized Medium (WIM), a significant component of the ISM that extends a few kiloparsecs above the Galactic disk. While this first look at the data focuses on the H-alpha survey, WHAM is also capable of observing many other optical emission lines, revealing fascinating trends in the temperature and ionization state of the WIM. Our ongoing studies of the physical conditions of diffuse ionized gas will continue from the southern hemisphere following the H-alpha survey. In addition, future observations will cover the full velocity range of the Magellanic Stream, Bridge, and Clouds to trace the ionized gas associated with these neighboring systems.
Keywords
  • Milky Way,
  • interstellar medium,
  • Canadian Galactic Plane Survey
Publication Date
2011
Editor
R. Kothes, T. L. Landecker and A. G. Willis
Publisher
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Series
ASP Conference Series, 438
ISBN
978-1-58381-756-8
Publisher Statement
ASP conference series, v. 438
Citation Information
L. M. Haffner, R. J. Reynolds, G. J. Madsen, A. S. Hill, et al.. "Early Results from the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper Southern Sky Survey" San FranciscoThe Dynamic Interstellar Medium: A Celebration of the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey (2011) p. 388 - 392
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/edwin_mierkiewicz/26/