How do stellar populations vary at different places within our Galaxy?

Rense Boomsma

Sterrenkunde II Groepsproject

Stellar populations of different age

The picture below is how our galaxy looks in infrared. You can see clearly a small disc and within its center a luminous bulge. Our Milky Way is surrounded by a spheroid-shaped halo, mostly filled with global clusters.


Credits: Nasa, COsmic Backgound Explorer (COBE) Project.
The Astronomy Picture of the Day

Now CLICK ON THE PICTURE to find out about the stellar populations in each area.



References

Massey, P. et al., 1995, ApJ, 454, 151
Morris, M., Serabyn, E., 1996, ARA&A, 34, 645
Mould, J.R., 1982, ARA&A, 20, 91
Ng Y.K. et al., 1997, A&A, 324, 65
Odenwald, S., Ask the Space Scientist, Nasa
Odenwald, S., Ask the Astronomer
Phelbs, R.L., Janes, K.A., 1993, AJ, 106, 1870


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The description of the project

Email: boomsma@astro.rug.nl