starbursts, galaxies, merging galaxies

[Henry Krinkle]

If you were looking at data of two galaxies, a chart that indicates the amount of stars and 1 that shows percentage of heavy elements and galaxy 1 had an even # of both would that most likely make it an elliptical? since star formation isn't present? And if galaxy 2 had an even number of stars and elements but then a sudden spike in star formation and a decrease in heavy elements; would that indicate that two galaxies merged and that a star burst occurred which used the heavy elements for their formation and would then explain the decrease in heavy elements? and lastly does this question make sense? Thank you in advance for replying.

[antoniseb]

Could you clarify what you mean by "even".

Side note, star formation doesn't selectively absorb heavy elements.

[Amber Robot]

Heavy elements tend to be the products of star formation, not the requirements. In principle, a star-bursting galaxy will create more heavy elements than it will use up.

[Henry Krinkle]

what i tried (and failed) to explain what that galaxy 1 would of an even amounts of stars with each amount of heavy elements. galaxy two would have an even amount of star with each amount (or increase) of heavy element until it got to a spike where there was a greater amount of stars at a higher level of heavy elements. Is there a way to upload a picture?

[slang]

Is there a way to upload a picture?

If you click on the "reply with quote" or "reply" button twice you will go the full editor, which gives you more options to edit. Scroll down a little and you'll see "manage attachments". In the attachment manager you can upload pictures into a sort of gallery, and select them to include in your post.

[Henry Krinkle]

If you click on the "reply with quote" or "reply" button twice you will go the full editor, which gives you more options to edit. Scroll down a little and you'll see "manage attachments". In the attachment manager you can upload pictures into a sort of gallery, and select them to include in your post.

Ok Thank you for that I attached a jpg that might help...Thanks again

[Amber Robot]

Your plot seems to be showing the first galaxy having an equal number of stars of all metallicities and the second galaxy having an excess of stars of high metallicity. Is that a correct description of your plot?

[Henry Krinkle]

Yes it is; I think galaxy two is a result of two galaxies colliding and attribute the sudden formation to a star burst but i dont know if thats accurate. Thanks for responding

[Henry Krinkle]

Ok I have another thought about galaxy two, could the increase star formation at the increased amount of heavy element be attributed to the outer part of a spiral galaxy? from my limited knowledge the inner part of spiral galaxy has little star formation taking place, in our galaxy i understand we are about 2/3 away from the center and star formation is still taking place, but i thought that the outer part of the spiral is where most of the star formation takes place. In the chart galaxy two indicates that the area with the sudden spike in star formation has heavy the heavier elements which would happen in young star formations. When a merging of two galaxies take place does the star burst produce stars at all levels of elements? or do they produce stars with just heavy elements? if galaxy 2 did have a starburst would the spike in star formation occur at all levels of heavy elements?

[Henry Krinkle]

Heavy elements tend to be the products of star formation, not the requirements. In principle, a star-bursting galaxy will create more heavy elements than it will use up.

But wouldn't the heavy elements that the star-burst create be evident after those stars have died? wouldn't they use the heavy elements (currently present in the merging galaxy) when the formed? or do i have it backwards? I thought when two merging spirals form a spike in star formation occurs using the clouds and dust to produce them and then they form into an elliptical galaxy?

[forrest noble]

If you were looking at data of two galaxies, a chart that indicates the amount of stars and 1 that shows percentage of heavy elements and galaxy 1 had an even # of both would that most likely make it an elliptical? since star formation isn't present? And if galaxy 2 had an even number of stars and elements but then a sudden spike in star formation and a decrease in heavy elements; would that indicate that two galaxies merged and that a star burst occurred which used the heavy elements for their formation and would then explain the decrease in heavy elements? and lastly does this question make sense? Thank you in advance for replying.

Galaxies are identified by their form regardless of any analysis of possibilities concerning the nature of their individual stars. If it's an elliptical galaxy form and has no disfiguration or lack of symmetry, it would be simply speculation as to the cause if star-burst creation just appears to be in one part of the galaxy. A merging galaxy from behind might be one reason, a merging inter-galactic cloud could be another. Ratios of individual stars concerning their metallicity cannot be directly observed, only estimated. Varying possibilities might be proposed and estimated probabilities could be attached to each possibility if they wished.