Which is the oldest and youngest part of a galaxy?

Question

Which is the oldest and youngest part of a galaxy? Center? Outer edges? For example, are we likely to find more advanced intelligent life in the center of the galaxy or farther away from the center?

Answer 1

The outer edges of a galaxy (the halo) are typically the oldest, with mostly very old red stars and globular clusters. The main disk usually has the youngest stars as that is where most of the new stars are formed.

I think that most extraterrestrial civilizations would exist within the main disk, but there may be many ancient 'first ones' out beyond the rim in the galactic halo. I do not think there would be many civilization near or in the core of the galaxy as the radiation there would be pretty harsh and saturates that area. There is no real way to tell right now as we do not know how many different ways life can actually exist. Maybe beings can exist as nothing more that pure radiation, or living clouds of interstellar gas. The possibilities are endless.

Answer 2

The galactic center contains the oldest stars.
The rim,where we are,is accelerating towards the center.
New stars can form in the rim but the available matter for star formation decreases as the galaxy collapses.

Answer 3

The stars in the hub (bulge) are also old. The disk contains the newest stars.
You will see that because stars that are halo and hub were formed earlier in the history of the galaxy, they have less metal contect (since metals are formed in stars, and then spit out in supernova and red giant phases)

Answer 4

All parts are the same age, but you tend to find older stars int he centre. You would probably not get very much life in hte dead centre, but it could appear anywhere- provided there aren't any nasty objects like pulsars nearby.