A Galactic Bar to Beyond the Solar Circle and its Relevance for Microlensing

The Galactic kinematics of Mira variables have been studied using infrared photometry, radial velocities, and Hipparcos parallaxes and proper motions. For Miras in the period range 145 to 200 days (probably corresponding to [Fe/H] in the range -0.8 to -1.3) the major axes of the stellar orbits are concentrated in the first quadrant of Galactic longitude. This is interpreted as a continuation of the bar-like structure of the Galactic Bulge out to the solar circle and beyond.