Halo streams as relicts from the formation of the Milky Way

Abstract

In this contribution we discuss the expected properties of our halo if our Galaxy had been built from mergers of smaller systems. Using both analytic arguments and high-resolution simulations, we find that the Galactic halo in the Solar neighbourhood should have a smooth spatial distribution and that its stellar velocity ellipsoid should consist of several hundred kinematically cold streams, relicts from the different merging events. We also discuss observational evidence which supports this hierarchical picture: two stellar streams originating in the same system that probably fell onto the Milky Way about ten Gyr ago. Finally we address what future astrometric missions like FAME or GAIA may reveal by observing the motions of nearby halo stars.