Average /sup 186,187,188/Os(n,γ) cross sections and the age of the galaxy via 187Re decay to 187Os

One measure of the age of the galaxy is derived from the Re-Os decay chronometer. The /sup 186,187/Os capture cross sections are crucially important in the use of this chronometer. In this note we describe a small revision of our measurements and point out the high degree of consistency of the measured cross sections with the revised results from other laboratories. Using a standard model of nucleosynthesis and these cross sections, the duration of r-process nucleosynthesis is estimated to be (8.9 +- 2.0) x 109 yr, the age of the galaxy to be roughly-equal13.5 x 109 yr and the universe to be roughly-equal14.5 x 109 yr