Astrophysics (Index) | About |
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.