THE AXIAL-RATIO OF THE GALACTIC STELLAR HALO

We report our results for the axial ratio of the stellar halo based on star counts from the APS catalog of the POSS I. We have used counts f rom seven POSS I fields, 16 deg each, including the NGP plus six in th e l = 90 degrees/270 degrees plane with \b\ = 40 degrees and 50 degree s. We investigate the dependence of the observed ratio on latitude and magnitude. The observed counts yield a mean ratio of 0.5 implying c/a less than or equal to 0.5 for a deprojected r(1/4) law. When correcte d for possible contamination by quasars and an extended/thick disk, th e ratio increases to only 0.6. We conclude that there is a significant population of stars above the Galactic plane in a flattened distribut ion in addition to those already ascribed to an extended or thick disk .