What is the Estimated Local Star Formation Rate and How Accurate is it?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the estimated local star formation rate (SFR) and the accuracy of this estimation. It explores various methods of calculating SFR and the factors influencing these estimates, including galactic history and local conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests a basic estimate of the local SFR by dividing the number of stars in the galaxy by the age of the galaxy, resulting in an average of about 10 stars formed per year, while noting that this method oversimplifies the complexities of galactic history and local conditions.
  • Another participant points out that star formation is typically associated with hydrogen clouds and mentions that SFR can be estimated using H-balmer spectra from newly ionized hydrogen or through radio observations of star-forming clouds.
  • There is a clarification on the term "OOM," defined as "Order Of Magnitude," which is described as a rough estimate within a factor of ten.
  • Participants express some uncertainty regarding the implications of local conditions on star formation rates, particularly contrasting regions with active star formation against those with minimal activity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints on the estimation of the local star formation rate, with no consensus reached on a definitive value or method of calculation. The discussion reflects varying interpretations of the factors influencing SFR.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the complexities involved in estimating the local SFR, such as the influence of galactic history and local environmental conditions, which remain open to interpretation.

randa177
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What is the estimated value of the local star formation rate (SFR) and how accurately do we know this number?
 
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The crudest of estimates divides the number of stars in the galaxy, OOM 1011, by the OOM age of the galaxy, 1010 years, and concludes that roughly on average 10 stars per year are formed in the whole galaxy.

This, of course, does not take into account glactic history, which include star burst eras, or the local conditions, which may vary widely from ancient dust free globular star clusters, where there is virtually no star formation, to Giant Molecular Clouds such as the Orion nebula, where stars are observed today in the process of formation.

Garth
 
what is OOM?
 
Order Of Magnitude - also known as WAG (wild ass guess)

The sun is in a pretty quiet region - star formation is normally associated with hydrogen clouds.
You can estimate SFR from either H-balmer spectra from all the newly ionized hydrogen or from Radio obs of star forming clouds.
 
Last edited:
randa177 said:
what is OOM?
Order Of Magnitude; a crude estimate in the 'ball park' as they say to within a factor of ten.

Garth
Edit: mgb_phys beat me to it!

Garth
 
Thank you very much
 

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