The nuclear bulge of our galaxy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nuclear bulge of our galaxy is primarily composed of stars associated with the spherical component of our galaxy. This is because the nuclear bulge is located at the center of the galaxy, where the gravitational forces of the surrounding stars and gas have concentrated the oldest and most metal-poor stars into a dense spherical distribution. The disk component of our galaxy is found further out from the galactic center and is characterized by younger, more metal-rich stars. The nuclear bulge is also relatively devoid of gas and dust compared to the disk, which further supports the conclusion that it contains primarily old, low-metallicity stars.

The Nuclear Bulge of Our Galaxy