Kinematics of carbon stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Published radial velocities of H II regions, luminous earlyand late-type stars, and planetary nebulae are consistent with a rotation law for the Large Magellanic Cloud V is proportional to R for R less than 5.5 deg. New radial velocities for some of the carbon stars in the WORC Catalogue extend the determination of rotation velocities to R about 7 deg. These observations are consistent with V proportional to R for R less than 5.5 deg, with a rapid decrease of V for greater distances. If these results are interpreted as indicating solid-body rotation of a finite disc, and if a true distance modulus of 18.6 is assumed for the LMC, the mass of the LMC is found to be about 2.6 x 10 to the 10th solar masses.