The edge of the Galactic disk

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (84) References (13) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Edge of the Galactic Disk Robin, Annie C. ; Creze, Michel ; Mohan, Vijay Abstract As part of a stellar population sampling program, a series of photometric probes at various field sizes and depths have been obtained in a low extinction window in the galactic anticentre direction. Such data set strong constraints on the radial structure of the disc. At the forefront of this "drilling" program, very deep CCD frames probe the most external parts of the disc. Over the whole effective magnitude range (18 to 25), all contributions in the statistics which should be expected from old disc stars beyond 6 kpc vanish, although such stars dominate by far at distances less than 5 kpc. This is the signature of a sharp cut-off in the star density: the edge of the galactic disc between 5.5 and 6 kpc. As a consequence, the galactic radius does not exceed 14 kpc (assuming $R/-/(//sun/)$=8.5). Colours of elliptical galaxies measured in the field rule out the risk of being misled by undetected extinction. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1992 DOI: 10.1086/186640 arXiv: arXiv:astro-ph/9210001 Bibcode: 1992ApJ...400L..25R Keywords: Galactic Structure; Milky Way Galaxy; Star Distribution; Astronomical Photometry; Charge Coupled Devices; Star Formation; Stellar Magnitude; Astrophysics; GALAXY: STRUCTURE; GALAXY: STELLAR CONTENT; Astrophysics E-Print: 8 pages, Besancon Observatory preprint n. 2 full text sources arXiv | ADS |