We present a supplement to the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg Hα planetary nebulae (PNe) catalogue (MASH), which we denote MASH‐II. The supplement consists of over 300 true, likely and possible new Galactic PNe found after re‐examination of the entire AAO/UKST Hα survey of the Southern Galactic Plane in digital form. We have spectroscopically confirmed over 240 of these new candidates as bona fide PNe, and we include other high‐quality candidates awaiting spectroscopic confirmation as possible PNe. These latest discoveries largely comprise two distinct groups: small, star like or moderately resolved PNe at one end and mostly large, extremely low surface brightness PNe at the other. Neither group were easy to discover from simple visual scrutiny of the original survey exposures as for MASH but were relatively straightforward to uncover from the digital images via application of semi‐automated discovery techniques. We suspect the few PNe still hidden in the Hα survey will lie outside our search criteria or be difficult to find.

The definitive version can be found at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ Copyright Royal Astronomical SocietyWe present the spectra of 32 previously unpublished confirmed and candidate Wolf-Rayet ([WR]) and weak emission-line (WELS) central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe). 18 stars have been discovered in the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg Ha (MASH) PN survey sample, and we have also uncovered 14 confirmed and candidate [WR]s and WELS among the CSPNe of previously known PNe. Spectral classifications have been undertaken using both Acker & Neiner and Crowther, De Marco & Barlow schemes. 22 members in this sample are identified as probable [WR] s; the remaining 10 appear to be WELS. Observations undertaken as part of the MASH spectroscopic survey have now increased the number of known [WR] s by similar to 30 per cent. This will permit a better analysis of [WR] subclass distribution, metallicity effects and evolutionary sequences in these uncommon objects

We present a detailed study of a bipolar, possible Type I planetary nebula (PN), PHR1315-6555 (PN G305.3-03.1), that was discovered as part of the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg Hα planetary nebula project (MASH) and that we considered at the time was an excellent candidate for membership of the distant, compact, intermediate-age open cluster, ESO 96-SC04. The strong evidence for this association is presented here making this the only known example of a PN physically associated with a Galactic open cluster. Cluster membership is extremely important as it allows for very precise estimates of the fundamental properties of the PN as the cluster is at a known distance.The PN was discovered by one of us (QAP) during systematic MASH searches for new Galactic PNe of the AAO/UKST Hα survey and had been missed in earlier broadband surveys, including specific CCD studies of the host cluster. We present original discovery images and CTIO 4m MOSAIC-II camera follow-up narrow-band images that reveal its bipolar morphology. We also present: (i) low-resolution optical spectra that spectroscopically confirm the PN; (ii) accurate radial velocities of PN and cluster stars from high resolution spectroscopy which show they are consistent; and (iii) a reliable, independent distance estimate to the PN using a robust PN distance indicator which agrees with the published cluster distance to within the errors. We also provide preliminary estimates of basic PN properties and abundance estimates from deeper spectra that show it to be of possible Type I chemistry. This is also consistent its estimated turn-off mass. Taken together these findings present a powerful case for clear physical association between the PN and host cluster. Results for this association will be of considerable interest to specialists across differing astrophysical disciplines, including PNe, white dwarfs, and open clusters.

We present fluxes and angular diametres for 435 Planetary Nebulae (PNe) in the central 10°× 10° region towards the Galactic bulge. Our sample is taken from the new discoveries of the MASH PN surveys as well as previously known PN. This sample accounts for 80 per cent of known PN in this region. Fluxes and diametres are measured from narrow‐band imaging with the MOSAIC‐II camera on the 4‐m Blanco Telescope at the Cerro‐Tololo Inter‐American Observatory. This is the largest (∼60 deg2), uniform survey of the inner Galactic bulge ever undertaken. 104 of the objects have measured , , Hα or Hβ fluxes from the literature, which we use to undertake a detailed comparison to demonstrate the integrity of our new fluxes. Our independent measurements are in excellent agreement with the very best literature sources over two orders of magnitude, while maintaining good consistency over five orders of magnitude. The excellent resolution and sensitivity of our data allows not only for a robust set of homogenous PN fluxes, but provides greater detail into their intricate, otherwise undetermined morphologies. These new, extensive measurements significantly increase the sample of reliable fluxes for Galactic bulge PN making it a valuable resource and a prelude to the construction of our new Galactic bulge PN luminosity function (Paper II).

Abstract:The PULSE@Parkes project has been designed to monitor the rotation of radio pulsars over time spans of days to years. The observations are obtained using the Parkes 64-m and 12-m radio telescopes by Australian and international high school students. These students learn the basis of radio astronomy and undertake small projects with their observations. The data are fully calibrated and obtained with the state-ofthe-art pulsar hardware available at Parkes. The final data sets are archived and are currently being used to carry out studies of 1) pulsar glitches, 2) timing noise, 3) pulse profile stability over long time scales and 4) the extreme nulling phenomenon. The data are also included in other projects such as gamma-ray observatory support and for the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array project. In this paper we describe the current status of the project and present the first scientific results from the Parkes 12-m radio telescope. We emphasise that this project offers a straightforward means to enthuse high school students and the general public about radio astronomy while obtaining scientifically valuable data sets.