An Aligned Stream of Low-Metallicity Clusters in the Halo of the Milky Way

Details An Aligned Stream of Low-Metallicity Clusters in the Halo of the Milky Way An Aligned Stream of Low-Metallicity Clusters in the Halo of the Milky Way

2002-07-28

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0207607v1

Science 297:578-581,2002

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

10 pages, 4 figures, published in Science

Scientific paper

10.1126/science.1073090

One of the long-standing problems in modern astronomy is the curious division of Galactic globular clusters, the "Oosterhoff dichotomy," according to the properties of their RR Lyrae stars. Here, we find that most of the lowest-metallicity ([Fe/H]<-2.0) clusters, which are essential to an understanding of this phenomenon, display a planar alignment in the outer halo. This alignment, combined with evidence from kinematics and stellar population, indicates a captured origin from a satellite galaxy. We show that, together with the horizontal-branch evolutionary effect, the factor producing the dichotomy could be a small time-gap between the cluster-formation epochs in the Milky Way and the satellite. The results oppose the traditional view that the metal-poorest clusters represent the indigenous and oldest population of the Galaxy.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

An Aligned Stream of Low-Metallicity Clusters in the Halo of the Milky Way does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with An Aligned Stream of Low-Metallicity Clusters in the Halo of the Milky Way, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An Aligned Stream of Low-Metallicity Clusters in the Halo of the Milky Way will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-536690