Where Can I Find Data on Stellar Types and Their Locations in the Milky Way?

[robousy]

Hey folks,

I'm currently at grad school and am working on an algorithm to try and model the rate of supernova (type I and II) in our galaxy.

I really need to know the following information.

1) Where can I find information on HOW MANY of the different types of stars there are in our galaxy. E.g, how many red giants, how many massive red giants. ( I just need rough numbers).

2) Is there any information on there (rough) location. i.e Are some stars likely to be located closer to the center of the galaxy than others.


I've done quite an extensive google search but don't seem to find the info I'm looking for.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Richard

 

[Astronuc]

I am hoping Space Tiger, Garth, Cronos or others will pop in here, but here is a start or at least an attempt -

Estimate of 10¹¹ stars in Milky Way - http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec10.html
http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast222/lectures/lec19.html[/URL]

See if one can find this paper or contact the author -
[PLAIN]http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v35n5/aas203/1236.htm[/URL]
[QUOTE]Stars are responsible for most of the production of elements in the universe heavier than hydrogen and helium. The genesis of these elements occurs via many different nuclear processes across a broad range of stellar masses. The build-up of the heavy elements in a galaxy is driven by the combination of star formation, stellar evolution, and stellar death, resulting in chemical evolution within a stellar population. Abundance distributions of the chemical elements will display variations that depend on such factors as the initial mass function, star formation histories, or whether heavy-element enriched stellar ejecta are lost from a galaxy, or external gas falls into a galaxy. Observed abundance distributions from a variety of galaxies or stellar populations can be used to infer the chemical enrichment histories as a function of galactic environment. Detailed abundances can now be derived in a number of Local Group galaxies using high-resolution spectrometers on 8-10 meter telescopes. We will discuss the nature of chemical evolution in some nearby Local Group galaxies and compare these to what is observed in the Milky Way disk and halo populations. [/QUOTE]


http://www.ras.ucalgary.ca/CGPS/where/plan/

[url]http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~barnes/ast626_95/pcmw.html[/url]

[url]http://ifa.hawaii.edu/~barnes/ast626_97/pcmw.html[/url]

[url]http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v382/n6592/abs/382602a0.html[/url]

[PLAIN]http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2004/pr-08-04.html[/URL]


This might be of interest - Genesis of the Heaviest Elements in the Milky Way Galaxy
[url]http://www.nhn.ou.edu/~cowan/msrev2.pdf[/url]

 

[sir-pinski]

Hi Richard,

That sounds like a fascinating project! Studying the stellar population in our Milky Way galaxy is a complex and ongoing task, as we are constantly discovering new stars and learning more about their characteristics. Here are some resources that may help you find the information you are looking for:

1) The Gaia mission, launched by the European Space Agency, is currently mapping the positions and characteristics of over 1 billion stars in our galaxy. You can find data and statistics on their website: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/gaia/home

2) The Sloan Digital Sky Survey is also a great resource for studying the stellar population in the Milky Way. They have collected data on millions of stars, including their locations and properties, which can be accessed through their website: https://www.sdss.org/

3) The Milky Way Project, a citizen science project, has also produced a catalog of over 1 billion stars in our galaxy. You can access their data and resources here: https://www.milkywayproject.org/

As for the distribution of stars in the Milky Way, it is generally believed that the majority of stars are located in the disk of the galaxy, with a smaller number in the bulge and even fewer in the halo. However, the exact distribution and density of stars is still a topic of research and debate.

I hope these resources are helpful to you in your project. Best of luck with your research!