The Origin of the Virgo Overdensity
The Virgo stellar structure - discovered as an overdensity of stars in photometric surveys - encompasses some 3000 square degrees and is located in the Milky Way halo. Using proper motions and radial velocities of members of this overdensity, we have determined that its orbit is on a very disruptive path through the Galaxy. N-body simulations suggest that the entire cloud-like Virgo structure is the tidal remnant from a disrupted massive (109 Msun) dwarf galaxy. The model also suggests that the progenitor of the Virgo overdensity is responsible for other stellar overdensities (i.e., the Pisces Overdensity, debris near NGC 2419 and near SEGUE 1) and NGC 2419 itself.
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03.15.2013 Priyamvada Natarajan, Professor of Astronomy, has been elected to an Honorary Professorship for life at the University of Delhi Congratulations! MORE INFO |
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02.25.2013 Yale astrophysicist elected head of American Astronomical Society Astrophysicist C. Megan Urry, Chair of Yale’s Physics Department and Director of the Center for Astronomy & Astrophysics, has been elected the next president of the world’s premier national astronomical society. MORE INFO |
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02.20.2013 Astronomers find smallest known planet — smaller than Mercury A team of scientists including two Yale University astronomers has discovered the smallest planet yet detected. MORE INFO |
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The Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium is open every Tuesday night for a planetarium show. Weather permitting there will also be public viewing of planets, nebulae, star clusters and whatever happens to be interesting in the sky. Seats are available on a first come first serve basis. No reservations necessary.
Current updates are posted under the Newsblog and Calendar sections at leitnerobservatory.org
© 2013 Yale University. All Rights Reserved.
© 2013 Yale University. All Rights Reserved.