Could the Hercules satellite be a stellar stream in the Milky Way halo?

Details Could the Hercules satellite be a stellar stream in the Milky Way halo? Could the Hercules satellite be a stellar stream in the Milky Way halo?

2010-10-12

arxiv.org/abs/1010.2389v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Galaxy Astrophysics

Conference proceedings of "A Universe of dwarf galaxies: Observations, Theories, Simulations" held in Lyon, France (June 14-18

Scientific paper

We investigate the possibility that Hercules, a recently discovered Milky Way (MW) satellite, is a stellar stream in the process of formation. This hypothesis is motivated by Hercules' highly elongated shape as well as the measurement of a tentative radial velocity gradient along its body. The application of simple analytical techniques on radial velocity data of its member stars provides tight constraints on the tangential velocity of the system (v_t = -16^{+6}_{-22} km/s, relative to the Galactic Standard of Rest). Combining this with its large receding velocity (145 km/s) and distance (138 kpc) yields an orbit that would have taken Hercules to within 6^{+9}_{-2} kpc of the Galactic centre approximately 0.6 Gyr ago. This very small perigalacticon can naturally explain the violent tidal destruction of the dwarf galaxy in the MW's gravitational potential, inducing its transformation into a stellar stream.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Could the Hercules satellite be a stellar stream in the Milky Way halo? 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 Could the Hercules satellite be a stellar stream in the Milky Way halo?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Could the Hercules satellite be a stellar stream in the Milky Way halo? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-608502