The Kinematics of Gould's Belt
Open Access
- 1 October 1967
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Vol. 137 (2) , 189-203
- https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/137.2.189
Abstract
A simple model of Gould's Belt as a projection from the lower edge of the Orion spiral arm is developed, and the radial velocities of the B stars therein analysed for relative solar motion and expansion. The Pleiades group motion is revealed together with linear expansion in the direction of the galactic centre. A brief study of relative proper motions and radial velocities of A stars in Gould's Belt suggests that these have the same kinematic properties as the B stars. The expansion age of Gould's Belt is found to be 3.7 × 10 7 years and doubts are expressed as to the extent to which such a system can have influenced the ‘dynamical equilibrium’ of A stars in motions perpendicular to the galactic plane. It would appear that the best estimate of the solar motion with respect to the B-star substratum originating from the spiral arms on either side of the Sun is that obtained by Feast & Shuttleworth.Keywords
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