What is the typical stellar age and hue characterizing the dense, spherical central bulge?
Answer
Older and redder/yellower.
The central bulge of a spiral galaxy contrasts sharply with the arms in terms of stellar population age and color. The bulge is characterized by a dense, roughly spherical concentration of stars that formed much earlier in the galaxy's history. Consequently, the stars residing here tend to be older, lower-mass stars that have much longer lifespans. These older stellar populations emit light that leans toward the warmer end of the spectrum, resulting in the bulge presenting a distinctly yellower or reddish hue when observed against the bright blue of the active star-forming spiral arms.
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