The Proper Motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud using HST

Details The Proper Motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud using HST The Proper Motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud using HST

2005-08-22

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0508457v1

Astrophys.J.638:772-785,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

40 pages, 15 figures, submitted to ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/498972

We present a measurement of the systemic proper motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) from astrometry with the High Resolution Camera (HRC) of the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We observed LMC fields centered on 21 background QSOs that were discovered from their optical variability in the MACHO database. The QSOs are distributed homogeneously behind the central few degrees of the LMC. With 2 epochs of HRC data and a ~2 year baseline we determine the proper motion of the LMC to better than 5% accuracy: mu_W = -2.03 +/- 0.08 mas/yr; mu_N = 0.44 +/- 0.05 mas/yr. This is the most accurate proper motion measurement for any Milky Way satellite thus far. When combined with HI data from the Magellanic Stream this should provide new constraints on both the mass distribution of the Galactic Halo and models of the Stream.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Proper Motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud using HST does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Proper Motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud using HST, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Proper Motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud using HST will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-462004