2026ApJ...999..108L


Query : 2026ApJ...999..108L

2026ApJ...999..108L - Astrophys. J., 999, 108 (2026/March-1)

The Milky Way Stellar Halo Is Twisted and Doubly Broken: Insights from DESI DR2 Milky Way Survey Observation.

LI S., WANG W., KOPOSOV S.E., AMARANTE J.A.S., DEASON A.J., SANDFORD N.R., LI T.S., MEDINA G.E., HAN J., VALLURI M., GNEDIN O.Y., KIZHUPRAKKAT N., COOPER A.P., BERALDO E SILVA L., FRENK C., CARLBERG R.G., LAMBERT M., QIU T., AGUILAR J.N., AHLEN S., BIANCHI D., BROOKS D., CLAYBAUGH T., DE LA MACORRA A., DOEL P., FORERO-ROMERO J.E., GAZTANAGA E., GONTCHO A GONTCHO S., GUTIERREZ G., JOYCE D., KEHOE R., KREMIN A., LAMMAN C., LANDRIAU M., LE GUILLOU L., MIQUEL R., PERCIVAL W., PRADA F., PEREZ-RAFOLS I., ROSSI G., SANCHEZ E., SCHLEGEL D., SHARPLES R., SILBER J.H., SPRAYBERRY D., TARLE G., WEAVER B.A. and ZOU H.

Abstract (from CDS):

Using K giants from the second data release (DR2) of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Milky Way Survey, we measure the shape, orientation, radial profile, and density anisotropies of the Milky Way (MW) stellar halo over 8 kpc < rGC < 200 kpc. We identify a triaxial stellar halo (axis ratio 10:8:7), 43° tilted from the disk, showing two break radii at ∼16 and ∼76 kpc, likely associated with Gaia-Sausage/Enceladus and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), respectively. The inner stellar halo (<30 kpc) is oblate and aligned with the disk, whereas the outer stellar halo becomes prolate and perpendicular to the disk, consistent with the vast polar structure of MW satellites. The twisted halo may arise from the disk-halo angular momentum shift triggered by the infall of a massive satellite. The anisotropic density distribution of the stellar halo is also measured, with successful reidentification of the Hercules-Aquila Cloud North/South (HAC-N/S) overdensity and the Virgo overdensity (VOD). Break radii are found at 15 and 30 kpc for VOD and HAC-N/S, respectively. We identify the LMC transient density wake with a break radius at 60 kpc in the Pisces overdensity region. We also find new observational evidence of the LMC collective density wake, by showing a break radius at ∼100 kpc in the northern Galactic cap with a clear density peak at 90 kpc. In the end, we found that more metal-poor halo stars are more radially extended. Our results provide important clues to the assembly and evolution of the MW stellar halo under the standard cosmic structure formation framework.

Abstract Copyright: © 2026. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.

Journal keyword(s): Milky Way stellar halo - Large Magellanic Cloud - Galaxy stellar content

Simbad objects: 7

goto Full paper

goto View the references in ADS

Number of rows : 7
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA
ICRS (J2000)
DEC
Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2026
#notes
1 NAME Sagittarius Stream St* 02 22 +00.0           ~ 1001 0
2 NAME LMC G 05 23 34.6 -69 45 22     0.4     ~ 19090 0
3 NAME Galactic Center reg 17 45 39.60213 -29 00 22.0000           ~ 16269 0
4 NAME Hercules Aquila Cloud reg 19 04 +06.3           ~ 138 0
5 NAME Pisces Overdensity G 23 19.0 +00 00           ~ 65 0
6 NAME Gaia Enceladus-Sausage St* ~ ~           ~ 860 0
7 NAME Virgo Overdensity reg ~ ~           ~ 53 0

To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:objects in 2026ApJ...999..108L and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu