1994A&A...286..231R

We present, as a first step in the study of supernova remnants in the Small Magellanic Cloud, the kinematics of the N 19 HII complex and of the supernova remnants SNR 0046-73.5 (N 24) and SNR 0050-72.8 (N 50). The N 19 HII complex shows violent motions compatible with the existence of at least three supernova remnants inside it. This agrees with studies in other wavelengths. The positions and physical properties of these remnants (one of them already identified as the SNR 0045-73.4 ) are given. In addition, we present similar studies for the remnants SNR 0046-73.5 and SNR 0050-72.8. While the sample selected in this work is still small, several common features of the studied remnants permit to establish a kinematical method of identification of supernova remnants and shocked nebulae in external galaxies. This method is particularly useful in the search for supernova remnants inside bright HII regions. In all of the cases studied here, the remnants are associated with HII regions. This permits to locate them in depth inside the Small Magellanic Cloud. The existence of several remnants inside the complex N 19 of moderate dimensions (diameter = 110 pc) encourages the searching for supernova remnants inside HII regions and suggests a revision of the supernova rates in irregular galaxies.