Arcturus stream
Encyclopedia
In astronomy
, the Arcturus Stream is a stellar stream
which includes the nearby bright star Arcturus. It comprises many stars which share similar proper motion
and so are physically associated.
This stream is not in the plane of the Milky Way
galaxy and is likely a remnant of an ancient dwarf satellite galaxy, long since disrupted and assimilated into the Milky Way. It consists of old stars deficient in heavy elements.
Research from the Radial Velocity Experiment at the Anglo-Australian Observatory headed by Quentin Parker was first to quantify the nature of the stream, though astronomers had known of its existence for some time. It was first discovered in 1971.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, the Arcturus Stream is a stellar stream
Stellar stream
This is a list of stellar streams. A stellar stream is an association of stars orbiting a galaxy that was once a globular cluster or dwarf galaxy that has now been torn apart and stretched out along its orbit by tidal forces...
which includes the nearby bright star Arcturus. It comprises many stars which share similar proper motion
Proper motion
The proper motion of a star is its angular change in position over time as seen from the center of mass of the solar system. It is measured in seconds of arc per year, arcsec/yr, where 3600 arcseconds equal one degree. This contrasts with radial velocity, which is the time rate of change in...
and so are physically associated.
This stream is not in the plane of the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
galaxy and is likely a remnant of an ancient dwarf satellite galaxy, long since disrupted and assimilated into the Milky Way. It consists of old stars deficient in heavy elements.
Research from the Radial Velocity Experiment at the Anglo-Australian Observatory headed by Quentin Parker was first to quantify the nature of the stream, though astronomers had known of its existence for some time. It was first discovered in 1971.