WIRCam and MIR abundances in galaxies
Daniel Devost, Shannon Guiles (Cornell University)

Abstract: Mid-Infrared (MIR) spectra obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope contain atomic lines that can be used to measure abundances. I will present preliminary, results on the spatial abundance determination of NGC 6946 using Neon and Sulfur lines in the MIR., , We determine abundances in the standard way, using atomic parameters and line fluxes for Neon, Sulfur and hydrogen. However, it is difficult to observe hydrogen lines in the MIR so our abundance determinations rely on the Halpha flux, which can be sensitive to systematic effects like extinction. With it's wide and narrow band Near-Infrared imaging capabilities, WIRCam can help determine the hydrogen flux using the BrGamma line which is less sensitive to systematics than the Halpha line. We then hope to get abundances determined exclusively with IR, data (MIR and NIR) and compare this to work already done in the optical (e.g. Roy & Belley 1993).