Clustering of Local Group distances: publication bias or correlated measurements? V. Galactic rotation constants

Abstract

As part of on an extensive data mining effort, we have compiled a database of 162 Galactic rotation speed measurements at $R_0$ (the solar Galactocentric distance), ${\Theta }_0$. Published between 1927 and 2017 June, this represents the most comprehensive set of ${\Theta }_0$ values since the 1985 meta analysis that led to the last revision of the International Astronomical Union's recommended Galactic rotation constants. Although we do not find any compelling evidence of the presence of `publication bias' in recent decades, we find clear differences among the ${\Theta }_0$ values and the ${\Theta }_0/R_0$ ratios resulting from the use of different tracer populations. Specifically, young tracers (including OB and supergiant stars, masers, Cepheid variables, H{\sc ii} regions, and young open clusters), as well as kinematic measurements of Sgr A* near the Galactic Center, imply a significantly larger Galactic rotation speed at the solar circle and a higher ${\Theta }_0/R_0$ ratio (i.e., ${\Theta }_0=247\pm 3$ km s${}^{-1}$ and ${\Theta }_0/R_0=29.81\pm 0.32$ km s${}^{-1}$ kpc${}^{-1}$; statistical uncertainties only) than any of the tracers dominating the Galaxy's mass budget (i.e., field stars and the H{\sc i}/CO distributions). Using the latter as most representative of the bulk of the Galaxy's matter distribution, we arrive at an updated set of Galactic rotation constants, $Θ_0 = 225 \pm 3 \mbox{ (statistical)} \pm 10 \mbox{ (systematic) km s}^{-1}$, $R_0 = 8.3 \pm 0.2 \mbox{ (statistical)} \pm 0.4 \mbox{ (systematic) kpc}$, and $Θ_0 / R_0 = 27.12 \pm 0.39 \mbox{ (statistical)} \pm 1.78 \mbox{ (systematic) km s}^{-1} \mbox{ kpc}^{-1}$.

8 pages, 4 figures; ApJS, in press

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• Analysis of galaxy kinematics based on Cepheids from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue
• Galactic Rotation Parameters Based on Stars from Activ Star-Forming Regions with Data from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue
• Kinematic Properties of Open Star Clusters with Data from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue
• Exploring the Galactic Anticenter substructure with LAMOST & Gaia DR2
• Kinematics of the Galaxy from a Sample of Young Open Star Clusters with Data from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue
• Galactic Rotation Based on OB Stars from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue
• Study of the Galactic Rotation Based on Masers and Radio Stars with VLBI Measurements of Their Parallaxes
• Clustering of Local Group distances: publication bias or correlated measurements? VI. Extending to Virgo cluster distances
• Kinematics of Hot Subdwarfs from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue
• Kinematic Properties of Young Intermediate- and Low-Mass Stars from the Gaia DR2 Catalogue
• Median Statistics Estimate of the Distance to M87
• Features of the Residual Velocity Ellipsoid of Hot Subdwarfs from the Gaia DR2 Catalog