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The Mass Distribution in the Central Few Parsecs of the Galaxy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2016

John H. Lacy
John H. Lacy*
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department University of Texas Austin, Texas, 78712 U.S.A.

Abstract

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The determination of the mass distribution in the central few parsecs of the Galaxy, primarily from the ionized gas dynamics, is discussed. The gas motions are described and interpreted assuming that the orbits are determined by gravitational forces. It is shown that there is good evidence for a central mass of ~ 2 × 106 M⊙. The primary uncertainty in this conclusion results from the possibility of significant magnetic forces. In the absence of corroborating evidence, the case for a massive black hole cannot be considered proven.

Type
Stars and the Central Mass Distribution
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 136: The Galactic Center , 1989 , pp. 493 - 499
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1989 

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