Jormungandr: A Large Substructure Circling the Milky Way Identified from Gaia DR3 Data

Ye, Xianhao; Zhao, Gang; Allende Prieto, Carlos; Zhao, Jingkun; Yang, Yong; Wu, Wenbo
Bibliographical reference

The Astrophysical Journal

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4
2025
Number of authors
6
IAC number of authors
3
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
We report the discovery of a large substructure in the Milky Way passing through the solar neighborhood, detected in actions calculated from Gaia DR3 data. We perform extensive tests to evaluate the selection effects present in the sample and conclude that they cannot produce an artifact with the same characteristics. This substructure, which we call Jormungandr, is orbiting the Milky Way with high LZ, higher eccentricity (median ∼0.50) and larger rotation velocity Vϕ compared to disk stars. It leaves obvious patterns in the integrals of motion and kinematics. The chemical abundances from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment DR17 for members of Jormungandr resemble those of the Galactic disk high-α sequence. It shows a significant spread in metallicity, as well as age, according to its color–magnitude diagram. Understanding its formation and nature requires further analysis and simulations.
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Chemical Abundances in Stars
Stellar spectroscopy allows us to determine the properties and chemical compositions of stars. From this information for stars of different ages in the Milky Way, it is possible to reconstruct the chemical evolution of the Galaxy, as well as the origin of the elements heavier than boron, created mainly in stellar interiors. It is also possible to
Carlos
Allende Prieto