G107.0+9.0: a new large optically bright, radio, and X-Ray faint galactic supernova remnant in Cepheus

Abstract

ABSTRACT Wide-field H α images of the Galactic plane have revealed a new supernova remnant (SNR) nearly 3 deg in diameter centred at l = 107.0, b = +9.0. Deep and higher resolution H α and [O iii] 5007 Å images show dozens of H α filaments along the remnant’s northern, western, and southwestern limbs, but few [O iii] bright filaments. The nebula is well detected in the H α Virginia Tech Spectral-Line Survey images, with many of its brighter filaments even visible on Digital Sky Survey images. Low-dispersion spectra of several filaments show either Balmer dominated, non-radiative filaments, or the more common SNR radiative filaments with [S II]/H α ratios above 0.5, consistent with shock-heated line emission. Emission line ratios suggest shock velocities ranging from ≤70 km s−1 along its western limb to ≃ 100 km s−1 along its northwestern boundary. While no associated X-ray emission is seen in ROSAT images, faint 1420 MHz radio emission appears coincident with its western and northern limbs. Based on an analysis of the remnant’s spatially resolved H α and [O iii] emissions, we estimate the remnant’s distance at ∼1.5−2.0 kpc implying a physically large (dia. = 75−100 pc) and old (90−110 × 103 yr) SNR in its post-Sedov radiative phase of evolution expanding into a low-density interstellar medium (n0 = 0.05−0.2 cm−3) and lying some 250−300 pc above the Galactic plane.