Abstract: Using the spectral data in the 3700 to 10050˚A wavelength range secured with the Hamilton Echelle Spectrograph (HES) at the Lick observatory, we have investigated the expansion velocities and the physical conditions of the elliptical planetary nebula NGC 6803. Various forbidden and permitted lines, e.g. HI, HeI, HeII, [OIII], [NII], [ArIII], and [SII], indicate complicated but systematic physical conditions variation: electron temperatures Tϵ ∼ 9000 – 11 000 K and electron number densities Nϵ ∼ 2000 – 9000 cm−3. The line profile analysis of these ions also indicates the systematic change or the acceleration of the expansion velocities in the range of 10 – 22 km s−1. We show that the velocity gradient and physical condition found in various ions are closely related to the prolate ellipsoidal structure of NGC 6803. The expansion velocity and the ionic abundance of O2+ were derived based on the OII and [OIII] lines. In spite of the discrepancy of ionic abundances derived by the two cases and their line profiles, the expansion velocities of them agree well. We find that the ratios of the red to blue line component of the HeII & OII lines are different from those of the [OIII] or other forbidden lines that indicates a possible involvement of emission of HeII & OII lines. This subtle difference and the different physical condition of the lines are likely to be caused by the elongated geometry and the latitude dependence of the emission zone.

• YOUNSU CHOI(School of Science Education (Astronomy), Chungbuk National University)
• SEONG-JAE LEE(School of Science Education (Astronomy), Chungbuk National University)
• SIEK HYUNG(School of Science Education (Astronomy), Chungbuk National University) Corresponding Author