Which stellar population dominates the Halo compared to the arms?
Answer
Population II stars, which are metal-poor and very old
There is a clear contrast in stellar populations between the halo and the spiral arms. The spiral arms are dominated by Population I stars, which are young and rich in heavier elements resulting from previous generations of stellar life and death. Conversely, the halo is populated almost entirely by Population II stars. These stars are distinctly characterized by being metal-poor, signifying that they formed very early in the Milky Way's history, before significant enrichment of the interstellar medium with heavier elements had occurred through supernovae and other processes.
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