Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2005-06-24
Astrophys.J.633:894-898,2005
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted for publication in ApJ
Scientific paper
10.1086/491644
A major uncertainty in the dynamical history of the local group of galaxies originates from the unknown transverse speed of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) relative to the Milky Way. We show that the recent VLBA measurement of the proper motion of Andromeda's satellite, M33, severely constrains the possible values of M31's proper motion. The condition that M33's stellar disk will not be tidally disrupted by either M31 or the Milky Way over the past 10 billion years, favors a proper motion amplitude of 100+-20km/s for M31 with the quadrant of a negative velocity component along Right Ascension and a positive component along Declination strongly ruled-out. This inference can be tested by future astrometric measurements with SIM, GAIA, or the SKA. Our results imply that the dark halos of Andromeda and the Milky Way will pass through each other within the next 5-10 billion years.
Brunthaler Andreas
Falcke Heino
Loeb Abraham
Reid Mark J.
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