Research report 2010 - Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics
The History of the Milky Way
Authors
Schönrich, Ralph
Departments
Chemische Evolution und Galaxiendynamik
Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, Garching
Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, Garching
Summary
New models developed at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (MPA) change our paradigms about the physics and evolution of the Milky Way Galaxy. Scientists at the MPA determine the parameters of about 16000 stars in the solar neighbourhood. The data confirms predictions of a model developed at the institute and provide insight into the physics of galactic discs, into the history of our Galaxy and the provenance of our Sun.