Imaging spectrophotometry of the Orion Nebula core. I - Emission-line mapping and physical conditions

Abstract

The results of a Fabry-Perot imaging spectrophotometric study of the core of the Orion Nebula H II region are presented. H-alpha, H-beta, forbidden O III 5007 A, forbidden N II 6548, 6583 AA, forbidden S II 6716, 6731 AA, and He I 6678A emission-line flux maps have been derived from low-resolution (5 A FWHM) Fabry-Perot CCD interferograms of the inner 6' surrounding the exciting star Theta 1 C Ori. Using two methods we find a helium ionic abundance of 0.088 +/- 0.008, consistent with previous single-point spectroscopic determinations.