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An Upper Limit to the Age of the Galactic Bar
Using data from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, we identify a population of infrared carbon stars with J-KS ≥ 2 in the Milky Way. These stars are shown to trace the stellar bar previously identified in IR and optical surveys. The properties of C stars strongly suggest that they are of intermediate age. We conclude that the bar is likely to have formed more recently than 3 Gyr ago and must be younger than 6 Gyr. Implications and further tests of this conclusion are briefly discussed.
History
Publication title
The Astrophysical JournalVolume
574Pagination
L43-L46ISSN
0004-637XDepartment/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
University of Chicago PressPlace of publication
Chicago, USARepository Status
- Restricted