Bibcode
Amôres, E. B.; López-Corredoira, M.; González-Fernández, C.; Moitinho, A.; Minniti, D.; Gurovich, S.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 559, id.A11, 14 pp.
Advertised on:
11
2013
Journal
Citations
13
Refereed citations
12
Description
Context. There is still some debate about the presence and the
morphological properties of the long bar in the inner Galaxy.
Aims: We investigate the morphological properties of the long Galactic
bar using the VVV survey extending star counts at least 3 mag deeper
than 2MASS. Our study covers the relatively unexplored negative
longitudes of the Galactic bar. We obtain a detailed description of the
spatial distribution of star counts towards the long Galactic bar as
well as to measure its parameters. Methods: We performed star
counts towards -20° <ℓ < 0, |b|≤ 2° using VVV,
2MASS, and GLIMPSE data. We applied an average interstellar extinction
correction. We also adjusted latitudinal profiles to obtain the centroid
variation and bar thickness. Results: We probe the structure of
long Galactic bar, as well as its far edge at ℓ ≈ -14°. The
differences between counts with and without extinction correction allow
us to produce a crude extinction map showing regions with high
extinction, mainly beyond the end of long Galactic bar. The latitudinal
profiles show evidence of the centroid vertical variation with Galactic
longitude reaching a minimum at ℓ ≈ -13.8°. The bar has an
inclination angle α = 43° ± 5° with respect to the
line Sun-Galactic center. In addition, we have determined the bar
parameters, such as thickness, length, and stellar distribution.
Appendix A is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
Related projects
Morphology and dynamics of the Milky Way
This project consists of two parts, each differentiated but both complementary: morphology and dynamics. Detailed study of the morphology of the Milky Way pretends to provide a data base for the stellar distribution in the most remote and heavily obscured regions of our Galaxy, through the development of semiempirical models based on the
Martín
López Corredoira