A stellar galactic disk component with greater vertical extent and typically larger random velocity dispersion than a thin galactic disk. In the Milky Way it contains an important old population. Its stars are not defined simply by being in a geometrically sharp slab or by all sharing one age.
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In the context of astronomy, a "thick disk" refers to a component of a galaxy, particularly spiral galaxies like the Milky Way. The structure of galaxies is often described in terms of different components, including the bulge, thin disk, thick disk, and halo. 1. **Thin Disk**: This is the primary component where most of the galaxy's stars, gas, and dust are found.