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Galactic structure from the Spacelab infrared telescope. II - Luminosity models of the Milky WayA 2.4-micron map of the northern Galactic plan is used to determine the 3D luminosity distribution of the Milky Way. The radial surface brightness profile of the disk is found to have an exponential scale length of 3.0 kpc. In the solar neighborhood, the scale height is about 247 pc, which is in agreement with star counts perpendicular to the Galactic plane. The scale height is not constant with the radius but decreases to about 165 pc. To the first order, the bulge can be represented by an oblate spheroid with an axis ratio of 0.61. The 2.2-micron/12-micron flux ratio for the bulge is typical of other dust-free spheroidal systems. Luminosity fluctuations along the Galactic plane are found to be caused chiefly by variations in the line-of-sight extinction.
Document ID
19910065866
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Kent, S. M.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Dame, T. M.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Fazio, G.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 378
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
91A50489
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-84-51724
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-32845
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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