The rotation curve of the Galaxy to R = 16 kiloparsecs.
Abstract
The rotation curve of the Galaxy has been measured to a galactocentric distance of 16 kpc by using CO observations of molecular complexes related to H II regions in the second and third quadrants. There is no evidence for a turnover in the velocity to the last measured point, and from R = 12 kpc to R = 16 kpc, the rotation curve appears to rise by about 30 km/s. The mass of the Galaxy interior to 16 kpc is about 300 billion solar masses, a value comparable to, but greater than, that of M31. The velocity dispersion of the complexes from the mean rotation curve is 8 km/s.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1086/183016
- Bibcode:
- 1979ApJ...231L.115B
- Keywords:
-
- Galactic Rotation;
- Milky Way Galaxy;
- Carbon Monoxide;
- Error Analysis;
- H Ii Regions;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Astrophysics;
- Galaxy:Mass;
- Galaxy:Rotation