Entity
EntityValue
EntityProperty
EntityClass
QuantityMagnitude
Fit

Astronomy
Physics

Galactic Structure of Star Clusters

Create a map of open and globular star clusters

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Query for the position of the center of the Milky Way with respect to the Sun:

In[1]:=

galaxy=

Milky Way

GALAXY



heliocentric XYZ coordinates



Out[1]=



-8.86134×

-1.61104×

-1.5851×



Get the positions of the open star clusters, relatively young and random groups, and of the globular star clusters, typically older groups with a roughly spherical distribution:

In[2]:=

{globulars,open}=DeleteMissing/@EntityValue

globular clusters

STAR CLUSTERS

open star clusters

STAR CLUSTERS

,"HelioCoordinates";

For fitting and plotting in graphics, you need only magnitude, in light years, of the various quantities:

In[3]:=

{galaxy,globulars,open}=QuantityMagnitude[{galaxy,globulars,open},"LightYears"];

Open clusters are found in the galactic disk/plane. Get the 3D plot of the galactic plane:

In[4]:=

galacticplane=ParametricPlot3Dr{Cos[t],Sin[t],0},{r,0,50000},{t,0,2Pi},

scene options



Out[4]=

Use the coordinates of the open star clusters to fit them to a plane:

In[5]:=

fit[x_,y_]=Fit[open,{1,x,y},{x,y}];

In[6]:=

normal={D[fit[x,y],x],D[fit[x,y],y],-1};

Visualize the open and globular star clusters and show the location of the Sun:

In[7]:=

ShowListPointPlot3D{open,globulars},

options

,Graphics3DTranslate[Rotate[galacticplane〚1〛,{{0,0,1},normal}],galaxy],

,PointSize[.02],Sphere[{0,0,0},1000],

scene options



Out[7]=

open clusters

globular clusters

Sun

External Links

Galaxy
StarCluster

Related Symbols

Entity
EntityValue
EntityProperty
EntityClass
QuantityMagnitude
Fit

Publisher Information

Contributed by: Wolfram Staff