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L. Valencic, G. Clayton (LSU), K. Gordon (Steward Obs.), M. Wolff, T. Smith (Space Science Inst.)
Beyond about 1 kpc of the Sun, little is known about how dust properties vary within the Galaxy. In order to gain a more complete understanding of Galactic extinction, we constructed a database significantly larger and more extensive in scope than any made before, and included all reddened sightlines toward OB stars in the IUE archive. The database consists of extinction curves, their associated FM parameters, distances, locations, reddenings, and other physical properties. We then made 3-dimensional maps of extinction properties throughout the Galaxy, as this study includes long sightlines (up to several kpc.) We will combine our results with IR spectra, used to investigate mantle growth on dust grains, in order to gain a better understanding of mantling and its affects on dust extinction properties in the UV. This will allow us to build more realistic grain models and gain a more comprehensive view of Milky Way dust grains in general, leading to more meaningful comparisons of dust in the Magellanic Clouds and in other galaxies.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.