Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars

We present an analysis of Galactic halo structure, substructure, and metallicity traced by main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars selected from the SDSS stripe 82 and CFHT Legacy Survey data sets. The main result of the study based on SDSS stripe 82 data is a 2D map of the Galactic halo that reaches dista...

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Главный автор: Sesar B.
Формат: Статья
Язык:English
Опубликовано: EDP Sciences 2012-02-01
Серии:EPJ Web of Conferences
Online-ссылка:http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20121902002
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author Sesar B.
author_facet Sesar B.
author_sort Sesar B.
collection DOAJ
description We present an analysis of Galactic halo structure, substructure, and metallicity traced by main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars selected from the SDSS stripe 82 and CFHT Legacy Survey data sets. The main result of the study based on SDSS stripe 82 data is a 2D map of the Galactic halo that reaches distances of 100 kpc and traces previously known and new halo substructures, such as the Sagittarius and Pisces tidal streams. We present strong direct evidence, based on both RR Lyrae and main-sequence stars, that the halo stellar number density profile significantly steepens beyond 30 kpc from the Galactic center. The steepening of the density profile beyond 30 kpc is also evident in the distribution of main-sequence stars observed by the CFHT Legacy Survey along four Galactic lines of sight. In the two CFHT sightlines where we do not detect significant substructure, the median metallicity is found to be independent of distance within systematic uncertainties ([Fe∕H] ~ −1.5 ± 0.1 dex within 30 kpc of the Galactic Center).
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spelling doaj.art-a322f40d6f5e409ebb8743f74c6a102f2022-12-21T23:15:51ZengEDP SciencesEPJ Web of Conferences2100-014X2012-02-01190200210.1051/epjconf/20121902002Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae starsSesar B.We present an analysis of Galactic halo structure, substructure, and metallicity traced by main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars selected from the SDSS stripe 82 and CFHT Legacy Survey data sets. The main result of the study based on SDSS stripe 82 data is a 2D map of the Galactic halo that reaches distances of 100 kpc and traces previously known and new halo substructures, such as the Sagittarius and Pisces tidal streams. We present strong direct evidence, based on both RR Lyrae and main-sequence stars, that the halo stellar number density profile significantly steepens beyond 30 kpc from the Galactic center. The steepening of the density profile beyond 30 kpc is also evident in the distribution of main-sequence stars observed by the CFHT Legacy Survey along four Galactic lines of sight. In the two CFHT sightlines where we do not detect significant substructure, the median metallicity is found to be independent of distance within systematic uncertainties ([Fe∕H] ~ −1.5 ± 0.1 dex within 30 kpc of the Galactic Center).http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20121902002
spellingShingle Sesar B.
Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars
EPJ Web of Conferences
title Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars
title_full Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars
title_fullStr Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars
title_full_unstemmed Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars
title_short Mapping the Galactic halo with main-sequence and RR Lyrae stars
title_sort mapping the galactic halo with main sequence and rr lyrae stars
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20121902002
work_keys_str_mv AT sesarb mappingthegalactichalowithmainsequenceandrrlyraestars