Research Note Interstellar polarization at high galactic latitudes from distant stars

V. First results for the South Galactic Pole

Tuorla Observatory, 21500 Piikkiö, Finland e-mail: andrei@astro.utu.fi;pekkatee@astro.utu.fi

Corresponding author: A. Berdyugin, andrei@astro.utu.fi

Received: 4 January 2001
Accepted: 18 January 2001

Abstract

We present the first results of our interstellar polarization programme for the South Galactic Pole (). The new observations (43 stars) combined with previously published data show that there is a substantial interstellar polarization in this area of the sky. Starting at a distance of 300 pc, we have found stars with including one for which . These measurements lead to the conclusion that there is a significant amount of interstellar dust at high south galactic latitudes. Futhermore, there is a remarkable alignment seen over the South Polar Cap: for most stars the directions of polarization vectors are aligned with the longitude , close to the expected direction of the global magnetic field. In this respect the SGP seems to differ strongly from its northern counterpart.