Exploring the vertical age structure of the Galactic disc. Issue Volume 11:Issue S319(2015) (17th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Casagrande, Luca
• Editors: Kaviraj, S.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 11:Issue S319(2015)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 113
• Publication Date: 2016-08-17
• Subjects: Galaxy: stellar content, -- Galaxy: disc, -- Galaxy: evolution, -- stars: fundamental parameters, -- stars: oscillations, -- surveys, -- techniques: photometric; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921315009825
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: While in external or high-redshift galaxies we can only measure integrated stellar properties at best, the Milky Way offers us the unique opportunity to study its individual baryonic components, including stars. We use oscillations measured in red giant stars by the Kepler satellite to derive stellar ages and explore the vertical age structure across few kpc of the Milky Way disc. We find that old stars dominate at increasing Galactic heights, whereas closer to the plane a rich zoology of ages exists. The age distribution of stars shows a smooth distribution over the last 10 Gyr, which together with a flat age-metallicity relation is consistent with a quiescent evolution for the Milky Way disc since a redshift of about two.