On a Source of Systematic Error in Absolute Measurement of Galactocentric Distance from Solving for the Stellar Orbit Around Sgr A*

dc.creatorNikiforov, Igor' I.
dc.date2008-03-06
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T09:25:11Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T09:25:11Z
dc.descriptionEisenhauer et al. (2003, 2005) derived absolute (geometrical) estimates of the distanceto the center of the Galaxy, $R_0$, from the star S2 orbit around Sgr A* on the assumption that the intrinsic velocity of Sgr A* is negligible. This assumption produces the source of systematic error in $R_0$ value owing to a probable motion of Sgr A* relative to the accepted velocity reference system which is arbitrary to some extent. Eisenhauer et al. justify neglecting all three spatial velocity components of Sgr A* mainly by low limits of Sgr A*'s proper motion of 20--60 km/s. In this brief paper, a simple analysis in the context of the Keplerian dynamics was used to demonstrate that neglect of even low (perhaps, formal) radial velocity of Sgr A* leads to a substantial systematic error in $R_0$: the same limits of 20--60 km/s result in $R_0$ errors of 1.3--5.6%, i.e., (0.1--0.45)$\times (R_0/8)$ kpc, for current S2 velocities. Similar values for Sgr A*'s tangential motion can multiply this systematic error in the case of S2 orbit by factor ${\approx}1.5$--1.9 in the limiting cases.
dc.description6 pages, 0 figures. To be published in Dynamics of Galaxies, Proceedings of the International Conference held at Pulkovo Observatory, August 6-10, 2007
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0803.0825
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0803.0825
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/156320
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleOn a Source of Systematic Error in Absolute Measurement of Galactocentric Distance from Solving for the Stellar Orbit Around Sgr A*
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