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Is the bulge of our Galaxy triaxial?

Nature volume 353, pages 140–141 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

AS in the case of other spiral galaxies, such as M31 (refs 1, 2), the rotation curve of gas in our Galaxy indicates that its nuclear bulge is triaxial3. Despite several studies4,5 of the distribution of specific objects in the galactic bulge, no observational evidence of asymmetry has emerged. Recently, however, Blitz and Spergel6 have reanalysed balloon-infrared observations at 2.4 μm, where obscuration is relatively low, to suggest that the galactic bulge is bar-like, and tilted with respect to the plane of the Galaxy. Here we report that the distribution of IRAS (the Infrared Astronomy Satellite) bulge stars shows an asymmetry with respect to the Galactic Centre, providing clear evidence for triaxiality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113, Japan

    Y. Nakada, T. Onaka & I. Yamamura

  2. Nobeyama Radio Observatory, Minamimaki, Minamisaku, Nagano, 384-13, Japan

    S. Degucji

  3. Department of Applied Physics, Seikei University, Musashino, Tokyo, 180, Japan

    O. Hashimoto

  4. Department of Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Tokyo Gakugei University, Koganei, Tokyo, 184, Japan

    H. Izumiura

  5. South African Astronomical Observatory, PO Box 9, Observatory, 7935, South Africa

    K. Sekiguchi

Authors
  1. Y. Nakada
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  2. S. Degucji
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  3. O. Hashimoto
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  4. H. Izumiura
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  5. T. Onaka
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  6. K. Sekiguchi
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  7. I. Yamamura
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Nakada, Y., Degucji, S., Hashimoto, O. et al. Is the bulge of our Galaxy triaxial?. Nature 353, 140–141 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/353140a0

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