SIMBAD references

We report the first detection of buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) in a protoplanetary nebula. The vibrational transitions of C₆₀ at 7.0, 17.4, and 18.9 µm are detected in the Spitzer/Infrared Spectrograph spectrum of IRAS 01005+7910. This detection suggests that fullerenes are formed shortly after the asymptotic giant branch but before the planetary nebulae stage. A comparison with the observations of C₆₀ in other sources is made and the implication for circumstellar chemistry is discussed.