Why is the thick disc hard to study?

[Flucky]

Homework Statement

As said in the title, why is the thick disc of our galaxy hard to study?


The attempt at a solution

I thought at first it may have something to do with the fact that the thin disc is so populated with stars that the light coming from it may interfere when trying to look at the thick disc just past it (like when it's dark and you try to look out of a window when the lights are on). If that was the case though it would be the same when trying to look at anything past the thin disc so it couldn't be right. Does anybody have any ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

[Flucky]

Bumpetty bump

 

[RHK]

What's the difference between thick and thin discs?

 

[DaveC426913]

If that was the case though it would be the same when trying to look at anything past the thin disc so it couldn't be right.

What makes you think that's not right?

 

[Flucky]

What makes you think that's not right?

I just thought if that was the case it would be equally hard to study anything beyond the thin disc, including the Milky Way's halo, distant galaxies, deep space etc.

 

[DaveC426913]

I just thought if that was the case it would be equally hard to study anything beyond the thin disc, including the Milky Way's halo, distant galaxies, deep space etc.

When we are looking at the bulk of our own galaxy's core, we are looking through the densest parts of the disk. ie. tens of thousands of light years of stars and gas and dust.

Anywhere else we look we are looking out through only a few thousands of light years, and the stars aren't very dense.

 

[Flucky]

When we are looking at the bulk of our own galaxy's core, we are looking through the densest parts of the disk. ie. tens of thousands of light years of stars and gas and dust.

Anywhere else we look we are looking out through only a few thousands of light years, and the stars aren't very dense.

Ah I think it's clicked now, thank you