In section 2.2 of article 2011MNRAS.418.1176R we discuss the question of how many bars there are in our Galaxy, and whether the available data can be explained by a single bar with a thick and a thin part. This section is reproduced here in a PDF file.

Here are two movies of the final snapshot of an illustrative simulation.

• whole galaxy and then Peanut, follow the link

• Peanut only, follow the link

For earlier work on this subject see 2005MNRAS.358.1477A and 2008mgng.conf...47A.