Abstract:
Planetary Nebulae (PNe) are shells of ionized gas thrown out by dying stars whose cores are evolving into white dwarfs. By studying them, we can understand the late stages of stellar evolution for stars between 1 and 8 solar masses. PNe in the Magellanic Clouds are particular interesting because their distance is relatively well known and their interstellar extinction is comparatively low and uniform. These conditions help to constrain the properties of their progenitor stars. In this talk, I will review some of the progress that has been made toward the understanding of stellar evolution, particularly, how the progenitor masses play a role in the PNe morphology and its chemical abundance.
Coffee and tea will be served 20 minutes prior to the seminar.