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Article
An upper limit to the age of the galactic bar
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
  • AA Cole
  • MD Weinberg
Publication Date
2002
Abstract

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.

Comments
This is a pre-published version which is collected from arXiv link. The published version is at http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-4357/574/1/L43?fromSearchPage=true
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1086/342278
Pages
L43-L46
Citation Information
AA Cole and MD Weinberg. "An upper limit to the age of the galactic bar" ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL Vol. 574 Iss. 1 (2002)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/martin_weinberg/66/