A three-dimensional map of the Milky Way using classical Cepheid variable stars

The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, with physical properties inferred from various tracers informed by the extrapolation of structures seen in other galaxies. However, the distances of these tracers are measured indirectly and are model-dependent. We constructed a map of the Milky Way in three...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2019-08, Vol.365 (6452), p.478-482
Main Authors: Skowron, Dorota M, Skowron, Jan, Mróz, Przemek, Udalski, Andrzej, Pietrukowicz, Paweł, Soszyński, Igor, Szymański, Michał K, Poleski, Radosław, Kozłowski, Szymon, Ulaczyk, Krzysztof, Rybicki, Krzysztof, Iwanek, Patryk
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cepheid variables
Construction
Galactic structure
Galaxies
Galaxy distribution
Milky Way
Periodic variations
Physical properties
Spiral galaxies
Star & galaxy formation
Star formation
Stars
Stars & galaxies
Stellar age
Stellar populations
Three dimensional models
Tracers
Variable stars
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Summary:The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, with physical properties inferred from various tracers informed by the extrapolation of structures seen in other galaxies. However, the distances of these tracers are measured indirectly and are model-dependent. We constructed a map of the Milky Way in three dimensions, based on the positions and distances of thousands of classical Cepheid variable stars. This map shows the structure of our Galaxy's young stellar population and allows us to constrain the warped shape of the Milky Way's disk. A simple model of star formation in the spiral arms reproduces the observed distribution of Cepheids.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.aau3181