- #1
VladZH
- 56
- 1
Do all stars orbit around the black hole in the same plane? Or some stars can have the same orbital radius but slightly different orbital inclinations?
Inclinations of star orbits in the Milky Way
In summary, stars in spiral galaxies have complex and varied orbits. Some follow the galactic plane with slight inclinations, while others have highly elliptical orbits. The galactic spheroid, a halo of stars, extends in all directions and is not limited to the galactic plane. Some stars, known as hypervelocity stars, have trajectories unrelated to the center of mass of a galaxy and can even come from other galaxies.
- #2
jim mcnamara
Mentor
- 4,770
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It is more complex than that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_galaxy#Galactic_spheroid
The galactic spheroid is a ball-shaped halo of stars that extends in all directions, not just the galactic plane. This is a LARGE number of stars out there.
In terms of the galactic core: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*
The black hole is part of a small clusters of smaller stars with orbits thought to be in many different highly elliptical orbits due to the BH there.
Hypervelocity stars are 'rogue' stars with very high velocities relative to all their neighboring stars.
https://www.space.com/19748-hypervelocity-stars-milky-way.html
There was a paper published lately about the origin of some of these hypervelocity stars: the Lesser Magellanic Cloud - smallish galaxy that orbits the Milky Way. Preprint only so far:
https://arxiv.org/abs/1704.01373
Kind of cool!
The galactic spheroid is a ball-shaped halo of stars that extends in all directions, not just the galactic plane. This is a LARGE number of stars out there.
In terms of the galactic core: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_A*
The black hole is part of a small clusters of smaller stars with orbits thought to be in many different highly elliptical orbits due to the BH there.
Hypervelocity stars are 'rogue' stars with very high velocities relative to all their neighboring stars.
https://www.space.com/19748-hypervelocity-stars-milky-way.html
There was a paper published lately about the origin of some of these hypervelocity stars: the Lesser Magellanic Cloud - smallish galaxy that orbits the Milky Way. Preprint only so far:
https://arxiv.org/abs/1704.01373
Kind of cool!
- #3
VladZH
- 56
- 1
Thanks for reply. What I figured out about spiral galaxies:
1) The stars in a disc incline slightly
2) There is a center bulge where stars can have any inclinations
3) And a galaxy has a halo where stars are gathered in globular clusters orbiting a galactic center
Are there stars just following a galaxy, not orbiting a center?
1) The stars in a disc incline slightly
2) There is a center bulge where stars can have any inclinations
3) And a galaxy has a halo where stars are gathered in globular clusters orbiting a galactic center
Are there stars just following a galaxy, not orbiting a center?
- #4
jim mcnamara
Mentor
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- 3,816
I do not know. It appears to me: Hypervelocity stars can have trajectories or orbits unrelated to the center of mass of a galaxy. Per the last paper cited above.
- #5
newjerseyrunner
- 1,533
- 637
Even a star that is more or less in the plane, does not orbit in a flat circle. Stars bob up and down through the galactic plane, sort of like this:
1. What are inclinations of star orbits in the Milky Way?
Inclination refers to the angle at which a star's orbital plane is tilted relative to the plane of the Milky Way. This angle can range from 0 degrees (perfectly aligned with the Milky Way's plane) to 90 degrees (orbiting perpendicular to the Milky Way's plane).
2. How are inclinations of star orbits in the Milky Way measured?
Inclinations can be measured using various techniques, such as astrometry (measuring the precise position and motion of stars), spectroscopy (analyzing the light spectra of stars), and gravitational lensing (observing how a star's light is bent by the gravity of other objects). These methods allow scientists to determine a star's orbital path and its angle of inclination.
3. What factors influence the inclinations of star orbits in the Milky Way?
The inclinations of star orbits can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the star's initial conditions (such as mass and velocity), interactions with other stars or celestial objects, and the overall gravitational field of the Milky Way. Additionally, the inclinations of stars in the same region of the Milky Way may be more similar due to their shared history and formation processes.
4. Why is studying the inclinations of star orbits important?
Studying the inclinations of star orbits can provide valuable insight into the formation and evolution of the Milky Way galaxy. By understanding the orbital patterns and inclinations of stars, scientists can better understand the dynamics and structure of our galaxy and how it has changed over time.
5. Are there any trends or patterns in the inclinations of star orbits in the Milky Way?
Yes, there are some observed trends in the inclinations of star orbits in the Milky Way. For example, stars in the outer regions of the galaxy tend to have higher inclinations compared to stars closer to the center. This is likely due to the influence of the galactic bar and the overall gravitational potential of the Milky Way.
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