Process / pipelineGalactic kinematics
Kinematic Distance
Kinematic distance is a method for estimating distances to objects in the Milky Way using their observed radial velocities and the known rotation curve of the Galaxy. Developed in the 1950s by Bert Westerhout and others, this technique enables distance determination to distant molecular clouds and masers without trigonometric parallax or individual object luminosities.
Open in MethodMindSoonVideoSoon
Read the full method
Members only
Sign inSign in with a free account to read this section.
Sources
- Reid, M. J., et al. (2014). Trigonometric parallaxes of high mass star forming regions: the structure and kinematics of the Milky Way. Astrophysical Journal, 783(2), 130. DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/783/2/130 ↗
- Brand, J., & Blitz, L. (1993). The latitude-velocity distribution of molecular clouds: evidence for a new Galactic component. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 275, 67-87. link ↗
- Green, G. M., et al. (2019). A 3D Dust Map Based on Gaia, Pan-STARRS 1 and 2MASS. Astrophysical Journal, 887(2), 93. DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ab5362 ↗