Exploring the Sagittarius Stream with SEKBO Survey RR Lyrae Stars

TL;DR

This study uses RR Lyrae stars from the SEKBO survey to investigate the Sagittarius stream, revealing velocity distributions and metallicities that inform models of the stream's structure and its relation to the Virgo Stellar Stream.

Contribution

First spectroscopic and photometric analysis of RR Lyrae stars in the Sagittarius stream region, comparing observations with disruption models to refine understanding of the stream's shape and extent.

Findings

Identified a group of stars with velocities consistent with old trailing debris.

Observed a broader spread of debris perpendicular to the Sgr plane than models predict.

Found similarities between the VSS and Sgr debris velocity trends.

Abstract

A sample of RR Lyrae (RRL) variables from the Southern Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt Object survey in regions overlapping the expected position of debris from the interaction of the Sagittarius (Sgr) dwarf galaxy with the Milky Way (RA ~ 20 and 21.5 h; distance 16-21 kpc) has been followed up spectroscopically and photometrically. The 21 photometrically confirmed type ab RRLs have mean [Fe/H] = -1.79 +/- 0.08, consistent with the abundances found for RRLs in a different portion of the Sgr tidal debris stream. The distribution of velocities in the Galactic standard of rest frame (V_GSR) of the 26 RRLs in the region is not consistent with a smooth halo population. Upon comparison with the Sgr disruption models of Law et al (2005), a prominent group of five stars having highly negative radial velocities (V_GSR ~ -175 kms-1) is consistent with predictions for old trailing debris when the Galactic halo is modeled as oblate. The observations also require that the recent trailing debris stream has a broader spread perpendicular to the Sgr plane than predicted by the models. We have also investigated the possible association of the Virgo Stellar Stream (VSS) with Sgr debris by comparing radial velocities for RRLs in the region with the same models, finding similarities in the velocity-position trends. As suggested by our earlier work, the stars in the VSS region with large negative V_GSR values are likely to be old leading Sgr debris, but we find that while old trailing Sgr debris may well make a contribution at positive V_GSR values, it is unlikely to fully account for the VSS feature. Overall we find that further modeling is needed, as trailing arm data generally favors oblate models while leading arm data favors prolate models, with no single potential fitting all the observed data.