Absence of an X-shaped Structure in the Milky Way Bulge Using Mira Variable Stars [GA]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1702.02539


The stellar density distribution of the bulge is analyzed through one of its tracers. We use oxygen-rich Miras variables from the Catchpole et al. (2016) survey and OGLE-III survey as standard candles. The average age of these stars is around 9 Gyr. The population traced by Mira variables matches a boxy bulge prediction, not an X-shaped one, because only one peak is observed in the density along the analyzed lines of sight, whereas the prediction of an X-shape gives two clear peaks.

Read this paper on arXiv…

M. Lopez-Corredoira
Thu, 9 Feb 17
44/67

Comments: 5 pages, accepted for publication in ApJ