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The integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopic view of extended ionized nebulae, such as planetary nebulae (PNe), H II regions, and galaxies, has changed the approach of studying these objects, providing a simultaneous characterization in both spatial directions. However, the spatial spaxel-by-spaxel analysis of such nebulae through IFUs is not directly comparable with the results obtained from the traditional slit-aperture spectroscopy or the predictions from 1D modelling. The new Python software called "satellite: Spectroscopic Analysis Tool for intEgraL fieLd unIt daTacubEs" is used in the analysis of the VIMOS and MUSE datacubes of four Galactic PNe. The 2D analysis of line ratio maps has shown important variations from one to another nebular component in NGC 7009 and NGC 6778. In particular, the knots in both PNe are characterized by strong emission from neutral gas that is weak or even absent from the main nebula, indicating significant variation in the ionization state and density structure among the nebular components. The far-UV radiation from the central star results in the photo-evaporation of the dense molecular knots resembling the spectrum of photodissociation regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) emission is commonly detected in planetary nebulae (PNe), specially in objects with bipolar morphologies. New studies showed that H 2 gas is also packed in microstructures embedded in PNe of any morphological type. Despite the presence of H 2 in cometary knots being known for years, only in the last five years, much deeper imagery of PNe have revealed that H 2 also exists in other types of low-ionisation microstructures (LISs). Significant differences are found between the host PNe of cometary knots and other types of LISs, such as nebula age, central star temperature (evolutionary stage) and the absolute sizes of the microstructure itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This workshop is the second of the WORKPLANS series, which we started in 2016. The main goal of WORKPLANS is to build up a network of planetary nebulae (PNe) experts to address the main open questions in the field of PNe research. The specific aims of the WORKPLANS workshop series are (i) to discuss and prioritize the most important topics to be investigated by the PN community in the following years; (ii) to establish a network of excellent researchers with complementary expertise; (iii) to formulate ambitious observing proposals for the most advanced telescopes and instrumentation presently available (ALMA, SOFIA, VLT, GTC, HST, etc.), addressing those topics; and (iv) to develop strategies for major proposals to future observatories (JWST, ELT, SPICA, Athena, etc.). To achieve these goals, WORKPLANS II brought together experts in all key sub-areas of the PNe research field, namely: analysis and interpretation of PNe observational data; theoretical modeling of gas and dust emission; evolution from Asymptotic Giant Branch stars (PNe progenitors) to PNe; and the instrumentation and technical characteristics of the relevant observatories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]