A new search for nebulae surrounding Wolf-Rayet stars

A comprehensive narrow band emission line survey of the Milky Way is used in searching for nebulosities surrounding Wolf-Rayet stars. Fifteen ring nebulae are definitely identified, including five previously unreported shell structures. An additional 30 nebulosities are classified as 'probable' or 'possible' ring nebulae. Angular diameter, sharpness or diffuseness, and level of brightness in three emission line bandpasses are determined for each nebulosity detected. Five selected shell structures are discussed in detail. Analysis of these data reveals a tendency for nebulae surrounding early WN stars to be brighter in the forbidden O III than in H-alpha plus the forbidden N II, whereas nebulae surrounding late WN stars tend to be brighter in H-alpha plus the forbidden N II than in the forbidden O III.