We report the detection of CO emission from the cometary globules which lie inside the ionized cavity of the Helix nebula. Our observations demonstrate that the globules consist of dense condensations of molecular gas. They yield estimates for the mass (greater than about 5 x 10 exp -6 solar mass) and density (greater than about 10 exp 5/cu cm) of the globules, and provide precise measurements of their radial velocities. The physical properties and kinematics of the globules firmly link the globule system with the massive envelope of molecular gas associated with the 'helix' structure around the central cavity.
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Huggins et al. (1992) studied this question.