A direct measure of the dark mass of M31

Details A direct measure of the dark mass of M31 A direct measure of the dark mass of M31

Aug 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009noao.prop..104m&link_type=abstract

NOAO Proposal ID #2009B-0104

Physics

Scientific paper

We propose to obtain radial velocities for red giant branch stars in a newly discovered, vast, stellar stream, coherent over 70 kpc at typical radii of 40 kpc from the center of the M31 galaxy. Coupled with our exquisite extant photometry covering M31 and its surrounding structures, the requested kinematics (sampled at 4 positions along the stream) will enable us to determine the orbit of the stream and identify its progenitor; there is a tantalizing possibility that it is linked to Andromeda I, but kinematics are required to test this hypothesis. By using this stream as a potentiometer, we will therefore determine the total mass of M31 contained within the orbit. This will represent an independent and direct measure of the gravitational potential - the dark matter content - of an L_star galaxy; it can only be achieved using the multiplexing capabilities and high throughput of the Keck/DEIMOS instrument.

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