Ionization structure in the 30 Doradus Nebula as seen with Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2

Abstract

Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, we have imaged the central 20 pc of the giant H II region 30 Doradus Nebula in three different emission lines. The images allow us to study the nebula with a physical resolution that is within a factor of 2 of that of typical ground-based observations of Galactic H II regions. We present a gallery of interesting objects within the region studied. These include a tube blown by the wind of a high-velocity star and a discrete H II region around an isolated B star. This small isolated H II region appears to be in the midst of the champagne flow phase of its evolution. Most of the emission within 30 Dor is confined to a thi..