Two-frequency VLA observations of compact planetary nebulae

Sixty-two compact planetary nebulae have been observed at wavelengths of 20.5 and 6 cm. By scaling the Very Large Array, very similar beam sizes were obtained at both wavelengths: this allows relatively accurate emission measures and angular diameters to be derived even when the nebulae are unresolved. Positions accurate to 1 arcsec are presented. It is found that compact planetaries are both younger and more distant than those which are resolved. A third of the survey objects have peak emission measures greater than 10 to the 7th pc cm exp -6, implying that they are ionization-bounded. One object, NGC 6565, has been resolved for the first time and is shown to be bipolar.