Description
We derive the electron temperature gradient in the Galactic disk, using a sample of HII regions that spans Galactocentric distances of 0-17kpc. The electron temperature was calculated using high-precision radio recombination line and continuum observations for more than 100 HII regions. Nebular Galactocentric distances were calculated in a consistent manner, using the radial velocities measured by our radio recombination line survey. The large number of nebulae widely distributed over the Galactic disk, together with the uniformity of our data, provide a secure estimate of the present electron temperature gradient in the Milky Way.
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