Published May 1, 2009 | Version v1
Journal article

THE LOST SIBLINGS OF THE SUN

  • 1. Sterrewacht Leiden University of Leiden, Niels Bohrweg 2, 2333 CA Leiden (Netherlands)
  • 2. Institute for Computer Science, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 403, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
  • 3. Astronomical Institute 'Anton Pannekoek', University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 403, Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Description

The anomalous chemical abundances and the structure of the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt observed in the solar system constrain the initial mass and radius of the star cluster in which the Sun was born to M ≅ 500-3000M sun and R ≅ 1-3 pc. When the cluster dissolved, the siblings of the Sun dispersed through the galaxy, but they remained on a similar orbit around the Galactic center. Today these stars hide among the field stars, but 10-60 of them are still present within a distance of ∼100 pc. These siblings of the Sun can be identified by accurate measurements of their chemical abundances, positions, and their velocities. Finding even a few will strongly constrain the parameters of the parental star cluster and the location in the Galaxy where we were born.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/696/1/L13

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal (Online)
Journal Volume
696
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. L13-L16
ISSN
1538-4357

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41045543
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ABUNDANCE; GALAXIES; SOLAR SYSTEM; STAR CLUSTERS; SUN
Descriptors DEC
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS; STARS