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Galactic archaeology for amateur astronomers: RR Lyrae stars as tracers of the Milky Way formation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Julio A. Carballo-Bello ,
David Martínez-Delgado  and
Jürgen Fliri
Julio A. Carballo-Bello
Affiliation:
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain email: jacb@iac.es
David Martínez-Delgado
Affiliation:
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain email: jacb@iac.es
Jürgen Fliri
Affiliation:
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, Vía Láctea s/n, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain email: jacb@iac.es
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Abstract

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Cosmological models predict that large galaxies like the Milky Way formed from the accretion of smaller stellar systems. The most spectacular of these merger events are stellar tidal streams, rivers of stars and dark matter that envelop the discs of spiral galaxies. We present a research project for a collaboration with amateur astronomers in the study of the formation process of our Galaxy. The main objective is the search for RR Lyrae variable stars in the known stellar streams (Sagitarius, Monoceros, Orphan, etc) a project that can be carried out using small telescopes. The catalogue of candidate variable stars were selected from SDSS data based in colour criteria and it will be sent to interested amateur astronomers who wish to participate in scientific research in one of the most active and competitive topics in Galactic astronomy.

Keywords

RR Lyrae starsGalaxygalaxy formationGalactic haloamateur astronomers
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S260: The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture , January 2009 , E34
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2011

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