the milky way galaxy is composed of millions of stars in a relatively flat structure containing a thin disk…

the milky way galaxy is composed of millions of stars in a relatively flat structure containing a thin disk and a thick disk. based on computer simulations and analysis of data on the brightness, position, and chemical composition of about 250,000 stars in the thick disk (collected from two telescopes, one in china and one orbiting in space), astrophysicists maosheng xiang and hans - walter rix claim that the thick disk of the milky way formed in two distinct phases rather than a single one. which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers claim? choose 1 answer: a theres an age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk. b the stars in the milky way tend to have very similar chemical compositions. c the thin disk contains about twice as many stars that can be seen from earth as the thick disk does. d the telescopes used by the researchers have detected stars of similar ages in galaxies other than the milky way.

the milky way galaxy is composed of millions of stars in a relatively flat structure containing a thin disk and a thick disk. based on computer simulations and analysis of data on the brightness, position, and chemical composition of about 250,000 stars in the thick disk (collected from two telescopes, one in china and one orbiting in space), astrophysicists maosheng xiang and hans - walter rix claim that the thick disk of the milky way formed in two distinct phases rather than a single one. which finding, if true, would most directly support the researchers claim? choose 1 answer: a theres an age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk. b the stars in the milky way tend to have very similar chemical compositions. c the thin disk contains about twice as many stars that can be seen from earth as the thick disk does. d the telescopes used by the researchers have detected stars of similar ages in galaxies other than the milky way.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

The researchers claim the thick - disk formed in two distinct phases. An age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk suggests different formation times, which supports the two - phase formation claim. Option B about similar chemical compositions doesn't relate to the formation phases. Option C about the number of visible stars in thin and thick disks is irrelevant to the thick - disk formation phases. Option D about stars in other galaxies is off - topic.

Answer:

A. There's an age difference of about 2 billion years between certain stars in the thick disk.