Cole, AAWeinberg, MD2024-04-262024-04-262002-01-01https://doi.org/10.1086/342278https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/3280This is a pre-published version which is collected from arXiv link. The published version is at http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-4357/574/1/L43?fromSearchPage=trueUsing data from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, we identify a population of infrared carbon stars with J-KS ≥ 2 in the Milky Way. These stars are shown to trace the stellar bar previously identified in IR and optical surveys. The properties of C stars strongly suggest that they are of intermediate age. We conclude that the bar is likely to have formed more recently than 3 Gyr ago and must be younger than 6 Gyr. Implications and further tests of this conclusion are briefly discussed.Galaxy : diskGalaxy : structurestars : carbonAstrophysics and Astronomyarticle