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Lessons from comparisons between the nuclear region of the Milky Way and those in nearby spirals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2014

John S. Gallagher III ,
Tova M. Yoast-Hull  and
Ellen G. Zweibel
John S. Gallagher III
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706USA
Tova M. Yoast-Hull
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Center for Magnetic Self Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706USA email: jsg@astro.wisc.edu, yoasthull@wisc.edu, zweibel@astro.wisc.edu
Ellen G. Zweibel
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706USA Department of Physics and Center for Magnetic Self Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706USA email: jsg@astro.wisc.edu, yoasthull@wisc.edu, zweibel@astro.wisc.edu
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Abstract

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The Milky Way appears as a typical barred spiral, and comparisons can be made between its nuclear region and those of structurally similar nearby spirals. Maffei 2, M83, IC 342 and NGC 253 are nearby systems whose nuclear region properties contrast with those of the Milky Way. Stellar masses derived from NIR photometery, molecular gas masses and star formation rates allow us to assess the evolutionary states of this set of nuclear regions. These data suggest similarities between nuclear regions in terms of their stellar content while highlighting significant differences in current star formation rates. In particular current star formation rates appear to cover a larger range than expected based on the molecular gas masses. This behavior is consistent with nuclear region star formation experiencing episodic variations. Under this hypothesis the Milky Way's nuclear region currently may be in a low star formation rate phase.

Keywords

galaxies: nucleiGalaxy: centergalaxies: spiralgalaxies: ISMgalaxies: evolution
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 9 , Symposium S303: The Galactic Center: Feeding and Feedback in a Normal Galactic Nucleus , October 2013 , pp. 61 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2014 

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