Investigation of a Possible Galactic Chimney

Abstract

Since the discovery in 1924 that we live in a separate star system, now known as the Milky Way Galaxy, astronomers have worked to understand the structure, composition and dynamics of our galaxy. A particular puzzle in recent years has been the origin and dynamics of the interstellar gas in the halo region of the galaxy high above the visible flat stellar disk. The chimney model dominates current theories of the source, support and ionization of the halo gas, yet no one has actually seen a galactic chimney. The most likely candidate for a galactic chimney in our galaxy was observed. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory telescope and NASA's International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite were used in these observations. The observations provided the data for the study. The investigation take the approach of observing a single region in great detail at many different wavelengths in order to gain understanding of the composition, ionization, and dynamics of the halo gas in the region of a possible galactic chimney. Interstellar matter; Galaxies; Milky Way.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 08, 1992
Accession Number
ADA257133

Entities

People

  • Bonnie R. Roberts

Organizations

  • United States Naval Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Spectra
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cosmic Rays
  • Detectors
  • Electrons
  • Fungi
  • High Resolution
  • Ionization
  • New York
  • Observatories
  • Quantum Properties
  • Radio Astronomy
  • Scattering
  • Spectral Lines
  • Spreadsheet Software
  • United States
  • United States Naval Academy

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics

Technology Areas

  • Space