The color gradient in spiral galaxies: application to M81.
Abstract
The calculated development of the color of a star cluster (Searle et al., 1973) is used to predict the expected color evolution, as a function of radius, in a spiral galaxy. It is assumed that the fraction of gas which is converted into stars during a spiral arm passage (consumption fraction) is a function of radius only. Applying this model to M 81, it is shown that the observed color and mass distributions can be explained by an initial disk-like gas distribution proportional to the inverse square of the radius and a consumption fraction which is an increasing function of radius.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- May 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975A&A....40..401S
- Keywords:
-
- Color;
- Galactic Evolution;
- Spiral Galaxies;
- Star Clusters;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Angular Velocity;
- Gas Density;
- Interstellar Extinction;
- Mass Distribution;
- Astrophysics