Local Stellar Kinematics from RAVE Data: I. Local Standard of Rest

TL;DR

This study uses RAVE survey data to accurately determine the Sun's motion relative to the Local Standard of Rest, confirming recent findings and showing the local galaxy is dynamically relaxed.

Contribution

It provides a precise measurement of the solar peculiar velocity using a large stellar sample, confirming recent values and demonstrating robustness across methods.

Findings

Solar motion in radial and vertical directions matches recent studies.

Tangential solar velocity is around 13 km/s, aligning with recent estimates.

Local galaxy appears dynamically relaxed and symmetric.

Abstract

We analyze a sample of 82850 stars from the RAVE survey, with well-determined velocities and stellar parameters, to isolate a sample of 18026 high-probability thin-disc dwarfs within 600 pc of the Sun. We derive space motions for these stars, and deduce the solar space velocity with respect to the Local Standard of Rest. The peculiar solar motion we derive is in excellent agreement in radial $U_{\odot}$ and vertical $W_{\odot}$ peculiar motions with other recent determinations. Our derived tangential peculiar velocity, $V_{\odot}$ agrees with very recent determinations, which favour values near 13 km s$^{-1}$, in disagreement with earlier studies. The derived values are not significantly dependent on the comparison sample chosen, or on the method of analysis. The local galaxy seems very well dynamically relaxed, in a near symmetric potential.