In astronomy, the G-dwarf problem refers to the apparent discrepancy in the distribution of metallicity levels in stars of different populations as compared to closed box models of galactic chemical evolution. According to closed box models, which represent galaxies without outside non-metallic material inflow, the distribution of metallicity levels in stars should follow a logarithmic curve. This amounts to high and low mass stars having the least metallicity, with G-type stars inbetween. However, these models are inconsistent with Milky Way observations. [1] Other galaxies have been shown to have the same problem. [2] The name comes from G-type stars, which are bright enough to be studied easily, yet are most often found unevolved. This provides an extensive look at relatively young stars. Despite this, the G-dwarf problem has also been observed in K and M dwarfs (the M dwarf problem). [3] [4]
Antlia is a constellation in the Southern Celestial Hemisphere. Its name means "pump" in Latin and Greek; it represents an air pump. Originally Antlia Pneumatica, the constellation was established by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. Its non-specific (single-word) name, already in limited use, was preferred by John Herschel then welcomed by the astronomic community which officially accepted this. North of stars forming some of the sails of the ship Argo Navis, Antlia is completely visible from latitudes south of 49 degrees north.
A globular cluster is a spheroidal conglomeration of stars that is bound together by gravity, with a higher concentration of stars towards their centers. They can contain anywhere from tens of thousands to many millions of member stars, all orbiting in a stable, compact formation. Globular clusters are similar in form to dwarf spheroidal galaxies, and the distinction between the two is not always clear. Their name is derived from Latin globulus. Globular clusters are occasionally known simply as "globulars".
The Hyades is the nearest open cluster and one of the best-studied star clusters. Located about 153 light-years away from the Sun, it consists of a roughly spherical group of hundreds of stars sharing the same age, place of origin, chemical characteristics, and motion through space. From the perspective of observers on Earth, the Hyades Cluster appears in the constellation Taurus, where its brightest stars form a "V" shape along with the still-brighter Aldebaran. However, Aldebaran is unrelated to the Hyades, as it is located much closer to Earth and merely happens to lie along the same line of sight.
The rotation curve of a disc galaxy is a plot of the orbital speeds of visible stars or gas in that galaxy versus their radial distance from that galaxy's centre. It is typically rendered graphically as a plot, and the data observed from each side of a spiral galaxy are generally asymmetric, so that data from each side are averaged to create the curve. A significant discrepancy exists between the experimental curves observed, and a curve derived by applying gravity theory to the matter observed in a galaxy. Theories involving dark matter are the main postulated solutions to account for the variance.
Red supergiants (RSGs) are stars with a supergiant luminosity class and a stellar classification K or M. They are the largest stars in the universe in terms of volume, although they are not the most massive or luminous. Betelgeuse and Antares A are the brightest and best known red supergiants (RSGs), indeed the only first magnitude red supergiant stars.
Epsilon Indi, Latinized from ε Indi, is a star system located at a distance of approximately 12 light-years from Earth in the southern constellation of Indus. The star has an orange hue and is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.83. It consists of a K-type main-sequence star, ε Indi A, and two brown dwarfs, ε Indi Ba and ε Indi Bb, in a wide orbit around it. The brown dwarfs were discovered in 2003. ε Indi Ba is an early T dwarf (T1) and ε Indi Bb a late T dwarf (T6) separated by 0.6 arcseconds, with a projected distance of 1460 AU from their primary star.
Castor is the second-brightest object in the zodiac constellation of Gemini. It has the Bayer designation α Geminorum, which is Latinised to Alpha Geminorum and abbreviated Alpha Gem or α Gem. With an apparent visual magnitude of 1.58, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Castor appears singular to the naked eye, but it is actually a sextuple star system organized into three binary pairs. Although it is the 'α' (alpha) member of the constellation, it is fainter than 'β' (beta) Geminorum, Pollux.
In astronomy, metallicity is the abundance of elements present in an object that are heavier than hydrogen and helium. Most of the normal currently detectable matter in the universe is either hydrogen or helium, and astronomers use the word "metals" as convenient shorthand for "all elements except hydrogen and helium". This word-use is distinct from the conventional chemical or physical definition of a metal as an electrically conducting solid. Stars and nebulae with relatively high abundances of heavier elements are called "metal-rich" in astrophysical terms, even though many of those elements are nonmetals in chemistry.
Chi Aquilae is the Bayer designation for a binary star in the equatorial constellation of Aquila, the eagle. This system is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye at a combined visual magnitude of +5.29. Based upon parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, Chi Aquilae is at a distance of approximately 900 light-years from Earth.
In astronomy, the initial mass function (IMF) is an empirical function that describes the initial distribution of masses for a population of stars during star formation. IMF not only describes the formation and evolution of individual stars, it also serves as an important link that describes the formation and evolution of galaxies.
In astronomy, stellar kinematics is the observational study or measurement of the kinematics or motions of stars through space.
Gliese 433 is a dim red dwarf star with multiple exoplanetary companions, located in the equatorial constellation of Hydra. The system is located at a distance of 29.6 light-years from the Sun based on parallax measurements, and it is receding with a radial velocity of +18 km/s. Based on its motion through space, this is an old disk star. It is too faint to be viewed with the naked eye, having an apparent visual magnitude of 9.81 and an absolute magnitude of 10.07.
Eta2 Coronae Australis, Latinized from η2 Coronae Australis, is a solitary star located in the southern constellation of Corona Australis. It is visible to the naked eye as a dim, blue-white hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.59. Gaia DR3 parallax measurements imply a distance of 770 light years from the Solar System, but it is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −23 km/s. At its current distance Eta2 CrA's brightness is diminished by 0.27 magnitudes due to stellar extinction from interstellar dust and it has an absolute magnitude of −0.24.
θ Pavonis, Latinized as Theta Pavonis, is a single star in the southern constellation of Pavo. It is just visible to the naked eye as a dim, white-hued star, having an apparent visual magnitude of 5.71. This star is located 213 light years from the Sun based on parallax.
PHL 293B, also known as Kinman's dwarf, is a low-metallicity blue compact dwarf galaxy about 22.6 Mpc from the Earth in the constellation Aquarius.
BG Indi, also known as κ1 Indi is a multiple star system in the southern constellation of Indus. Its average apparent magnitude is 6.141, meaning it can only be seen by the naked eye under exceptionally good viewing conditions. Stellar parallax measurements by Gaia put the system at about 166 light-years away.
HD 75171, also known as HR 3495, is a solitary, white hued star located in the southern constellation of Volans. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.02, making it faintly visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions. The object is relatively close at a distance of 191 light years but is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 10.7 km/s. Eggen (1995) lists it as a probable member of the Hyades Supercluster.