Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society Talk

Tracing the Milky Way’s Structure and Evolution with Long Period Variables

Long-period variables are evolved, pulsating stars whose well-defined period–luminosity relations make them powerful tracers of Galactic structure. Their wide range of stellar ages also provides a unique opportunity to investigate how the Milky Way has evolved over billions of years. In this talk, I will explore how Mira variables can be used to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of our Galaxy, with particular emphasis on the Galactic bulge and bar. Using a newly constructed catalogue of over 50,000 Mira candidates identified in Gaia DR3, I will discuss how their spatial distributions reveal the Milky Way’s barred and peanut-shaped structure, and how differences between stellar populations can help constrain the formation and evolutionary history of our Galaxy. We will also look ahead to exciting new data coming from the next generation of great observatories.

Dr. Steven Gough-Kelly is an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Fresno, who studies the dynamics of barred galaxies with a particular focus on the Milky Way using state-of-the-art simulations and survey observations, p. He holds a PhD from the University of Central Lancashire, where he specialised in galactic dynamics and evolution.His research primarily investigated the structural history of disc galaxies, exploring internal processes that shape formations like bars and nuclear discs, similar to the Milky Way. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Dr. Gough-Kelly is also a dedicated science communicator and educator. He frequently designs astronomy workshops and public lectures to inspire community curiosity about space and complex cosmic systems.

This Hybrid event is also available via Zoom.

Description supplied by the event organiser.