Amateur PN discoveries and their spectral confirmation: A significant new addition to the Galactic PN inventory
Pascal Le Dû, Lionel Mulato, Q. A. Parker, Thomas Petit, Andreas Ritter, Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner, Dana Patchick, T. Prestgard, O. Garde, Nicolas Outters, T. Raffaelli
Abstract
We present the key results from an intensive and coordinated ten-year amateur observational programme designed to uncover and confirm Galactic planetary nebulae (PNe). This was undertaken and led by a dedicated group of largely French amateur astronomers in collaboration with professional colleagues. Over this period this group has uncovered a total of 209 spectroscopically confirmed True, Likely, and Possible Galactic PNe, with the work accelerating over the last three years in particular. These new discoveries represent ~5% of all 3831 True, Likely, and Possible Galactic PNe currently known according to the HASH database as of March 2022. A further 610 PNe candidates are awaiting follow-up. These figures demonstrate the power and value of the amateur community in undertaking a coordinated and focused programme such as this.