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Article
The Milky Way as a key to structural evolution in galaxies
TETONS 4: GALACTIC STRUCTURE, STARS, AND THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM
  • MD Weinberg
Publication Date
2001
Abstract

Much of our effort in understanding the long-term evolution and morphology of theMilkyWay and other galaxies has focused on the equilibrium of its luminous disk. However, the interplay between all components, seen and unseen, is a major cause of observed features and drives evolution. I will review the key underlying dynamics, and in a number of examples, show how this leads to lopsidedness and offset nuclei, may trigger bars and cause warps. Indeed, the Milky Way like most spiral galaxies show exhibit many of these features. In addition, the mechanisms suggest that observed morphology depends on the properties of the galaxy and only weakly on any particular disturbance. Because of this convergence, understanding a galaxy’s history will be subtle and require the level of detail that study of the Milky Way can provide.

Comments
This is a pre-published version which is collected from arXiv link. The published version is at http://www.aspbooks.org/a/volumes/article_details/?paper_id=22059
Pages
53-74
Book Series Title
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC CONFERENCE SERIES
Citation Information
MD Weinberg. "The Milky Way as a key to structural evolution in galaxies" TETONS 4: GALACTIC STRUCTURE, STARS, AND THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM Vol. 231 (2001)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/martin_weinberg/67/