We use data on open star clusters (OSCs) from the Homogeneous Catalog of OSC Parameters to determine some of the parameters of the spiral structure of our Galaxy: the pitch angle of the spiral arms i=21.∘5, the pattern speed Ωp = 20.4 ± 2.5 km s−1 kpc−1, and the initial phase of the spiral θ 0 = 206°. The spiral pattern of the Galaxy proves to have been virtually unchanged over the last billion years, and signatures of the concentration of objects toward the spiral arms can be traced back to this age. However, the number of spiral arms in the structure cannot be determined from OSCs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-178
Number of pages8
JournalAstronomy Letters
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2005

    WoS ResearchAreas Categories

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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