The origin of metal rich globular clusters

Are the metal rich globular clusters in our galaxy part of the bulge (present view) or the thick disk (older view )? Answering this question will involve analysis of the cluster system in our galaxy and also of that in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). The significance is that the globular clusters formed very early in the life of the Galaxy. Within the current framework of galaxy formation ideas, the thick disk would be a very natural place for the clusters to form.

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