The Optical-Infared Study and Geometric Model of Young Multipolar Planetary nebula -- IRAS 21282+5050

Abstract

We present high angular resolution Hubble Space Telescope (HST) optical and near-infrared imaging of the famous compact planetary nebula (PN) IRAS 21282+5050. Optical images of this object reveal several complex morphological structures including three pairs of lobes and an elliptical shell lying close to the plane of the sky. From near-infrared observations, we found a dust torus which is oriented nearly perpendicular to the major axis of elliptical shell. The results suggest that IRAS 21282+5050 (IRAS 21282) is indeed a multipolar PN, and these structures developed in the early stage on its evolutionary track. We also constructed this object by a three-dimensional (3D) model and determined the dimensions of these intrinsic structures. Assuming these lobes are shaped by wind interactions, the presence of these geometric structures has been suggested as the result of multiple phases of fast winds with temporal and directional variations. Based on the visualization of 3D model of this object viewed from different orientations, the appearance of IRAS 21282 shows similar intrinsic structures as other multipolar PNs.