Galactic Stellar Populations in the Era of SDSS and Other Large Surveys

TL;DR

Recent large sky surveys have revealed complex stellar structures and substructures in the Milky Way, challenging previous smooth galaxy formation models and highlighting the importance of mergers in galaxy evolution.

Contribution

This review synthesizes recent survey data and theoretical advances, emphasizing the complex, merger-driven formation history of the Milky Way and future prospects with upcoming surveys.

Findings

Detection of multiple stellar streams and overdensities.

Evidence supporting galaxy formation through mergers.

Recognition of the Milky Way's complex, dynamic structure.

Abstract

Studies of stellar populations, understood to mean collections of stars with common spatial, kinematic, chemical, and/or age distributions, have been reinvigorated during the last decade by the advent of large-area sky surveys such as SDSS, 2MASS, RAVE, and others. We review recent analyses of these data that, together with theoretical and modeling advances, are revolutionizing our understanding of the nature of the Milky Way, and galaxy formation and evolution in general. The formation of galaxies like the Milky Way was long thought to be a steady process leading to a smooth distribution of stars. However, the abundance of substructure in the multi-dimensional space of various observables, such as position, kinematics, and metallicity, is by now proven beyond doubt, and demonstrates the importance of mergers in the growth of galaxies. Unlike smooth models that involve simple components, the new data reviewed here clearly show many irregular structures, such as the Sagittarius dwarf tidal stream and the Virgo and Pisces overdensities in the halo, and the Monoceros stream closer to the Galactic plane. These recent developments have made it clear that the Milky Way is a complex and dynamical structure, one that is still being shaped by the merging of neighboring smaller galaxies. We also briefly discuss the next generation of wide-field sky surveys, such as SkyMapper, Pan-STARRS, Gaia and LSST, which will improve measurement precision manyfold, and comprise billions of individual stars. The ultimate goal, development of a coherent and detailed story of the assembly and evolutionary history of the Milky Way and other large spirals like it, now appears well within reach.