We investigate the properties of AGB and post-AGB (PAGB) stars, planetary nebulae, and young stellar objects (YSOs) in our Galaxy through an analysis of observational data covering visual and infrared (IR) wavelengths. Utilizing datasets from IRAS, 2MASS, AllWISE, Gaia DR3, and the SIMBAD object database, we perform an in-depth comparison between observational data and theoretical models. For this comparison, we present various color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) in visual and IR bands, as well as IR two-color diagrams (2CDs). Our results demonstrate that the CMDs, incorporating the latest distance and extinction data from Gaia DR3 for a majority of sample stars, are effective in distinguishing different classes of stars. To improve the precision of our analysis, we apply theoretical radiative transfer models for dust shells around AGB and PAGB stars. A thorough comparison of the theoretical models with observations across various IR 2CDs and CMDs shows a significant agreement. We find that AGB and PAGB stars are among the brightest classes in visual and IR bands. Furthermore, most YSOs are clearly distinguishable from AGB stars on various IR CMDs, exhibiting fainter absolute magnitudes in IR bands.

We present various infrared two-color diagrams (2CDs) using WISE data for asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and Planetary Nebulae (PNe) and investigate possible evolutionary tracks. We use the sample of 5036 AGB stars, 660 post-AGB stars, and 2748 PNe in our Galaxy. For each object, we cross-identify the IRAS, AKARI, WISE, and 2MASS counterparts. To investigate the spectral evolution from AGB stars to PNe, we compare the theoretical model tracks of AGB stars and post-AGB stars with the observations on the IR 2CDs. We find that the theoretical dust shell model tracks can roughly explain the observations of AGB stars, post-AGB stars, and PNe on the various IR 2CDs. WISE data are useful in studying the evolution of AGB stars and PNe, especially for dim objects. We find that most observed color indices generally increase during the evolution from AGB stars to PNe. We also find that Fe0.9Mg0.1O dust is useful to fit the observed WISE W3-W4 colors for O-rich AGB stars with thin dust shells.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered to be carriers of the unidentified infrared bands, which are ubiquitously observed in the Universe. PAHs are mainly formed around evolved carbon-rich stars and injected into interstellar space. Planetary nebulae (PNe), a late stage of low- and intermediate stellar mass evolution, are suitable objects to investigate the formation and evolution of PAHs. The shortest PAH feature is located in 3.3 μm, which is important to examine the excitation and size distribution of PAHs. While the number of samples had been limited before, the high sensitivity of AKARI/IRC has drastically increased the number of samples. We obtained the 2-5 μm spectra of Galactic PNe with AKARI/IRC and compiled a near-infrared spectral catalog, containing 73 PNe. We investigate the detection rate and the evolution of the PAH features. The characteristics of the catalog are illustrated and the origin of the evolution of the PAH features is discussed.

We have carried out integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy of Hα, [N ii] and [Oiii] emission lines for a sample of Galactic planetary nebulae (PNe) with Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars and weak emission-line stars (wels). Comparing their spatially-resolved kinematic observations with morpho-kinematic models allowed us to disentangle their three-dimensional gaseous structures. Our results indicate that these PNe have axisymmetric morphologies, either bipolar or elliptical. In many cases the associated kinematic maps for the PNe around hot central stars also reveal the presence of so-called fast low-ionization emission regions.

We have carried out optical spectroscopic measurements of emission lines for a sample of Galactic plan- etary nebulae with Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars and weak emission-line stars (wels). The plasma diagnostics and elemental abundance analysis have been done using both collisionally excited lines (CELs) and optical recombination lines (ORLs). It was found that the abundance discrepancy factors (ADF = ORL/CEL) are closely correlated with the difference between temperatures derived from forbidden lines and those from He i recombination lines, implying the existence of H-deficient materials embedded in the nebula. The Hβ surface brightness correlations suggest that they might be also related to the nebular evolution.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Galactic planetary nebulae (PNe) are investigated by means of the unidentified infrared (UIR) bands. Continuous near- to mid-infrared spectra of PNe are obtained with the AKARI/IRC and the Spitzer/IRS. All 19 PNe in the present study show prominent dust emissions and we investigate the variation in the intensity ratios among the UIR bands. The ionization fraction and the size distribution of PAHs in PNe are derived using the UIR band ratios. We find that the ionization fraction of PAHs in PNe is around 0.0-0.6 and that small PAHs are scarce. The present result indicates a systematic trend of the 3.4 μm aliphatic feature to become weak as the PAH ionization fraction increases.

The Galactic planetary nebulae emit many strong recombination and forbidden lines. By analyzing such lines, the physical condition of the planetary nebulae has been inferred using the strategically important diagnostic line ratios. In order to fully understand the physical condition of a planetary nebula and to derive its chemical abundances, the photoionization model codes, e.g., CLOUDY and NEBULA, were employed for an analysis of gaseous nebular spectra. For the well-studied, relatively simple planetary nebula NGC 7026, theoretical investigation was done with about the same input parameters in models. The predictions made by both codes seem to be in good accord. However, the predicted physical conditions, such as electron temperature and density, are slightly different. Especially, the electron temperatures are predicted to be higher in CLOUDY, which may cause a problem in chemical abundance determination. Our analysis shows that the main discordance may occur due to the diffuse radiation.

Resonance doublets including O VI 1032, 1038, NV 1239, 1243 and C IV 1548, 1551 constitute prominent emission lines in symbiotic stars and planetary nebulae. Spectroscopic studies of symbiotic stars and planetary nebulae from UV space telescopes show various line ratios of these doublets deviating from the theoretical ratio of 2:1. Using a Monte Carlo technique, we investigate the collisional de-excitation effect in these emission nebulae. We consider an emission nebula around the hot component of a symbiotic star characterized by the collisional de-excitation probability Pcoll~10-3-10-4 per each resonance scattering, and the line center optical depths for major resonance doublets in the range T0~102-105 We find that various line ratios are obtained when the product PcollT0 is of order unity. Our Monte Carlo calculations show that the flux ratio can be approximately fitted by a linear function of logT0 when T0Pcoll~1 It is briefly discussed that this corresponds to the range relevant to the emission nebulae of symbiotic stars.

The spectroscopic properties of bright extragalactic planetary nebulae are reviewed, considering primarily their chemical abundances and their internal kinematics. Low-resolution spectroscopy is used to investigate how the precursor stars of bright planetary nebulae modify their original composition through nucleosynthesis and dredge up. At present, the evidence indicates that oxygen and neon abundances usually remain unchanged, helium abundances are typically enhanced by less than 50%, while nitrogen enhancements span a very wide range. Interpreting these changes in terms of the masses of their progenitor stars implies that the progenitor stars typically have masses or order 1.5M⊙ or less, though no models satisfactorily explain the nitrogen enrichment. High-resolution spectroscopy is used to study the internal kinematics of bright planetary nebulae in Local Group galaxies. At first sight, the expansion velocities are remarkably uniform, with a typical expansion velocity of 18 km/s and a range of 8-28 km/s, independent of the progenitor stellar population. Upon closer examination, bright planetary nebulae in the bulge of M31 expand slightly faster than their counterparts in M31's disk, a result that may extend generally to the planetary nebulae arising from old and young stellar populations. There are no very strong correlations between expansion velocity and global nebular properties, except that there are no large expansion velocities at the highest Hβ luminosities (i.e., the youngest objects never expand rapidly). These results independently suggest that bright planetary nebulae arise from a similar mass range in all galaxies. Nonetheless, there are good reasons to believe that bright planetary nebulae do not arise from identical progenitor stars in all galaxies.

우리은하 속의 행성상성운들의 운동자료를 분석하여, 은하 회전의 운동학적 특성과 진화에 대한 단서를 제공한다. 우리는 THE STRASBOURG-ESO CATALOGUE OF GALACTIC PLANETARY NEBULAE에 주어진 자료 502개를 이용하여 행성상성운의 운동학적 특성을 분석하였다. 은경(I)이 0˚, 90˚, 180˚, 270˚인 4방향과 태양의 향점과 배점의 총 6방향에 대한 특성적인 평균시선속도 (Vr)s를 구하였다. 행성상성운들은 향점에서 69.0 km/s로 태양에 접근하고, 배점(56˚, 236˚)에서 64.1km/s로 멀어지고 있는 경향을 보였다. z 방향으로 행성상성운의 분포를 보면 은하면 아래쪽에 더 많이 분포하지만, 큰 차이는 보이지 않았다. 우리은하에 속한 천체 중 제 3세대인 행성상성운들의 회전속도 성분이 태양에 비해 상대적으로 느림을 알 수 있는데 이는 4세대 별인 태양이 제 3세대 별들과 조우할 수 있음을 암시한다.

Athough planetary nebulae (PNe) have been discovered for over 200 years, it was not until 30 years ago that we arrived at a basic understanding of their origin and evolution. Even today, with observations covering the entire electromagnetic spectrum from radio to X-ray, there are still many unanswered questions on their structure and morphology. In this review, we summarize recent theoretical and observational advances in PNe research, and discuss the roles of PNe in the chemical (atomic, molecular, and solid-state) enrichment of the galaxy and as tracers of the large scale structure of the Universe.

Chemical compositions of planetary nebulae are of interest for a study of the late stage of stellar evolution and for elemental contributions to the interstellar medium of reprocessed elements since possibly a large fraction of stars in 0.8 - 8 M⊙ range go through this stage. One of the methods for getting chemical composition is a construction of theoretical photoionization models, which involves geometrical complexities and a variety of physical processes. With modelling effort, one can analyze the high dispersion and find the elemental abundances for a number of planetary nebulae. The model also gives the physical parameter of planetary nebula and its central star physical parameter along with the knowledge of its evolutionary status. Two planetary nebulae, NGC 7026 and Hu 1-2, which could have evolved from about one solar mass progenitor stars, showed radically different chemical abundances: the former has high chemical abundances in most elements, while the latter has extremely low abundances. We discuss their significance in the light of the evolution of our Galaxy.

We present the first results of a wide field survey for planetary nebulae throughout M31 undertaken at the KPNO 0.9m telescope with the Mosaic camera. So far, images in [O III]⋋5007 and its continuum filter have been analyzed. Our survey appears to be at least 90% complete to about 2 mag below the peak of the planetary nebula luminosity function. Over 900 planetary nebulae candidates have been found within a 12 square degree area.