High-Velocity Clouds: Galactic or Extragalactic?
Abstract
Both extragalactic and galactic models of high-velocity clouds (HVCs) are examined on the basis of observational evidence that indicates structural differences between the Magellanic Stream and the rest of the HVC gas. The existing extragalactic and galactic models are shown to be incapable of providing a consistent interpretation for all the observational data. It is proposed that the northern-hemisphere HVCs are the result of the infall of Magellanic Cloud material onto the Galactic disk after a close pericenter passage by the Magellanic Clouds and that the observed high-latitude enhancement and spectral softening of the soft X-ray flux might be produced in part as a consequence of this infall.
- Publication:
-
Structure and Properties of Nearby Galaxies
- Pub Date:
- 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978IAUS...77..293G
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Models;
- Galactic Structure;
- Hydrogen Clouds;
- Intergalactic Media;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Radio Astronomy;
- Mass Transfer;
- Microwave Emission;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- Astrophysics