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The stars of the Galactic center

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Author

Summary, in English

We consider the origin of the so-called S stars orbiting the supermassive black hole at the very center of the Galaxy. These are usually assumed to be massive main-sequence stars. We argue instead that they are the remnants of low-to-intermediate mass red giants that have been scattered into near-radial orbits and tidally stripped as they approach the central black hole. Such stars retain only low-mass envelopes and thus have high effective temperatures. Our picture simultaneously explains why S stars have tightly bound orbits and the observed depletion of red giants in the very center of the Galaxy.

Publishing year

2005

Language

English

Pages

25-27

Publication/Series

Astrophysical Journal

Volume

624

Issue

Part 2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

American Astronomical Society

Topic

  • Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Keywords

  • Galaxy : center
  • Galaxy : kinematics and dynamics
  • Galaxy : nucleus

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0004-637X