Field studies, luminosity functions, and star formation history in the Magellanic Clouds
Abstract
The history of star formation in the Magellanic Clouds (MC) is investigated, summarizing observational data obtained since about 1970. The color-magnitude diagrams for different regions of the LMC and SMC are characterized; main-sequence luminosity functions derived on the basis of model computations are shown; and it is concluded that although some star formation in the MC may have occurred 10 Gyr ago, it was much less significant than that which took place 5 Gyr or less ago. The great value of Space Telescope observations in studying the many outstanding questions about the MCs is indicated.
- Publication:
-
Structure and Evolution of the Magellanic Clouds
- Pub Date:
- September 1984
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S0074180900039978
- Bibcode:
- 1984IAUS..108...79S
- Keywords:
-
- Magellanic Clouds;
- Star Formation;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Hubble Space Telescope;
- Main Sequence Stars;
- Stellar Models;
- Astrophysics