An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The process whereby a → disk star changes its → galactocentric distance. Radial migration involves → angular momentum transfer, resulting from → resonances created by transient → density waves such as → bars or → spiral arms in → galactic disks. According to → galactic dynamics models, → churning is the main cause of radial migration. Radial migration of stars plays an important role in shaping the properties of galactic disks.

See also: → radial; → migration.