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Pushing HST’s Astrometry capabilities to Its Limits: Proper Motion of M31. S. Tony Sohn (STScI) J. Anderson & R. P. van der Marel (STScI). 1. Image credit: Robert Gendler. Proper Motions of Local Group Galaxies.
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Pushing HST’s Astrometry capabilities to Its Limits:Proper Motion of M31 • S. Tony Sohn (STScI) • J. Anderson & R. P. van der Marel (STScI) 1 Image credit: Robert Gendler
Proper Motions ofLocal Group Galaxies • The Local Group (LG) = “An astrophysical laboratory for studying the dynamical interactions among galaxies.” • Many galaxies lack PMs, preventing complete dynamical studies.ex) Leo I - bound or unbound to the MW? ➠ Total Mass of MW • Proper motion of M31:✓ The total mass of Local Group.✓ M31-Milky Way orbit and the merger scenario (Vtan < 200 km/s).✓ M31-M33 orbit and past interaction between the two.✓ M31 internal kinematics - dynamical evolution.
Proper Motions ofLocal Group Galaxies • Piatek et al. (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, & 2007)- Milky Way dSph satellites: Fornax, Carina, Ursa Minor, and Sculptor- Used QSOs near center of fields as reference points • Kallivayalil et al. (2006a, 2006b) - LMC/SMC PM with QSOs • Brunthaler et al. (2005, 2006) - M33 & IC10 PMs with H2O masers • van der Marel & Guhathakurta (2008) - M31 VTAN estimated using statistical methods for M31 satellites and outer LG galaxies:<VW> = −78±41 km/s, <VN> = −38±34 km/s (0.01~0.02 mas/yr)
OUTERDISK SPHEROID TIDALSTREAM M31 Data • 3 Fields in M31: SPHEROID / OUTERDISK / TIDALSTREAM • 1st epoch: ACS/WFC F606W + F814W (PI: Tom Brown; ID 9453,10265)➥ 120 / 53 / 53 orbits of integration➥ Construction of master frames, CMDs, star/galaxy identifications • 2nd epoch: ACS/WFC F606W 1 orbit + WFC3/UVIS F606W 2 orbits➥ ACS data observed with same pointing and orientation as EP1➥ WFC3 data for additional control of systematics (better scale and CTE)➥ Time baselines: 7 / 5 / 5 years
Absolute Proper Motions withBackground Galaxies • General procedure of measuring the PMs of stars. • How to measure the positions of galaxies? • How to choose a reliable sample of galaxies? • What are the uncertainties of our approach?
Median-combine SExtractor + visual inspection Stars Galaxies individual images individual images individual images master frame Templates 108 frames (1st epoch) Epoch 2 Epoch 2 Transformations Linear + Distortion
Transformation 5x5 pixels Measuring Positions of Galaxies Brightest pixel near the center = “Handle” Individual frame Template (GSF) Master frame Trial offsets
−10.2 −9.7 −8.4 −9.1 −8.7 σX = 0.12 σY = 0.40 σX = 0.42 σY = 0.06 σX = 0.07 σY = 0.19 σX = 0.03 σY = 0.06 σX = 0.13 σY = 0.06 −11.1 σX = 0.01 σY = 0.01 −10.3 σX = 0.03 σY = 0.02 −9.4 σX = 0.05 σY = 0.06 −8.2 σX = 0.07 σY = 0.07 −7.4 σX = 0.11 σY = 0.11
146 264 406 250 78 Selection of Background Galaxies 1087 background galaxies used for PM calculations
SPHEROID FIELD OUTERDISK FIELD vdM&G (2008) vdM&G (2008) σ/√N = 0.032 mas/yr σ/√N = 0.016 mas/yr = 0.002 pix • Systematics ➯ The PSFs have changed significantly between the first and second epoch data. • ACS post processing + WFC3 data will provide solutions.
Average PSF Residuals Epoch 1 Epoch 2
GSF-Fitting PM Derivations: Further Scientific Applications • “Proper Motion of Leo I: Constraining the Milky Way Mass”(ID 12270; PI Sohn) - 25 km/s level precision at 260 kpc➥ Constrain orbit of Leo I to check the bound status to MW • “Mass of the Local Group from PMs of Distant Dwarf Galaxies”(ID 12273; PI van der Marel) - Cetus, Leo A, Tucana, and SAGDIGAveraged 35 km/s level precision at the edge of LG (~1 Mpc)➥ Constrain orbits of galaxies near the turn-around radius of the LG • Potential for measuring transverse velocities of more distant galaxies beyond the Local Group.
Benefits of using bG galaxies as Reference Sources • Abundance of sources provides √N advantage in averaging. • Sample the whole detector, reducing systematic errors. • Ubiquity - absolute PMs can be derived in virtually any field. • Many exciting scientific applications for Local Group and beyond. - Work in progress...
Proper Motion • Typical units: mas/yr or mas/century • To get accurate proper motions, measure positions with small errors, increase the time baseline, or both. • With photographic plates, usually deal with time baseline. • With HST, precise positions can be measured.