Interstellar polarization at high galactic latitudes from distant stars
VII. A complete map for southern latitudes b 
Tuorla Observatory, 21500 Piikkiö, Finland e-mail: [andber;piirola;pekkatee]@astro.utu.fi
Received:
20
February
2004
Accepted:
17
May
2004
We present a detailed map of interstellar polarization
for the South Galactic Pole (
). The map is based on
new polarization measurements of 183 stars of spectral classes from A to K at distances of up to 500 pc. We use polarization data to
investigate the distribution of dust and to map the Galactic magnetic
field at high southern Galactic latitudes and make a comparison with
the opposite northern polar zone. In general, the magnetic field
is smoother in the south and aligned with the global pattern. There
are no extended dusty structures in the south similar to Markkanen's
cloud in the north.
Key words: polarization / ISM: dust, extinction / Galaxy: solar neighborhood
© ESO, 2004