1999ApJ...518..778L

A disk of excited H₂v=1⟶0 S(1) (2.122 µm) emission has been found in the core of the extraordinary bipolar planetary nebula KjPn 8. This surrounds the central, extended, and clumpy thermal radio emission (VLA) and near-infrared (J, H, and K' bands) source. The H₂ disk is found to be contained within a previously found expanding CO disk, and they share the same orientation. The plane of the H₂ disk is perpendicular to the high-velocity bipolar outflows. The 4" diameter core of KjPn 8 has also been observed for 37 on-source hours at a wavelength of 6 cm with the MERLIN radio interferometer with an angular resolution of 0".05. The data have been combined with 4 hr of VLA-A observations at the same wavelength but where the resolution is 0".5. The most remarkable feature of these radio observations is the possible presence of a weak ``point'' radio source embedded in the center of the H₂ disk. It is thought plausible that this point source may be direct emission from the powerful, ionized wind of the central star that now drives this nebulosity.