Astrophysics (Index)About

stellar halo

(stars in the region surrounding a galaxy)

A stellar halo consists of stars (halo stars) surrounding the clearly-distinct portion of a galaxy, a greater density of stars then found further distant from the galaxy, but far less density than those that induce us to classify it as a galaxy. It comprises one aspect of the galaxy's galactic halo. The region also likely includes globular clusters and often the term stellar halo is meant to include those. I believe the term generally is not meant to include satellite galaxies within the region (which can include star formation), but it does include stars presumed to be from past/destroyed satellite galaxies, such as stellar streams. The Milky Way's stellar halo extends nearly an order-of-magnitude further than its clearly-visible disk, and contains possibly as much as a percent of the stars. The halo stars are generally old and of very low metallicity, as are the halo globular clusters.


(galaxies,stars)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_halo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_halo
https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/s/Stellar+Halo
http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/Academics/Astr222/Galaxy/Structure/halo.html

Referenced by pages:
elliptical galaxy
galactic halo
giant elliptical galaxy
SPLASH
stellar population

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