Cosmic Star Formation from the Milky Way and its Satellites

Abstract

We use observations and evolutionary models of local objects to interpret a recent determination of the star-formation history of the universe. By fitting the global star-formation rate, the model predicts the ratio of spheroid to disk mass of $\sim$1, an intergalactic medium (IGM) whose mass is $\sim$2.3 times the mass in stars, and whose metallicity is $\sim$0.1 Z${}_{\odot }$.

arXiv commentMinor revisions. 6 pages, 5 figures, Latex, uses paspconf.sty, Invited contribution to IAU Symposium 190-New Views of the Magellanic Clouds. Eds. Y-H. Chu, N. Suntzeff, J. Hesser and D. Bohlender