Local Group and Star Cluster Dynamics from HSTPROMO (The Hubble Space Telescope Proper Motion Collaboration)

TL;DR

The HSTPROMO collaboration uses Hubble Space Telescope proper motion measurements to enhance understanding of the dynamics of star clusters, galaxies, and other celestial objects in the nearby Universe.

Contribution

It summarizes a decade of observational and theoretical HST projects that have advanced the dynamical study of various astronomical objects using proper motions.

Findings

Improved dynamical models of globular and star clusters.

Insights into stellar streams and galaxy interactions.

Enhanced understanding of local group galaxy motions.

Abstract

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has proven to be uniquely suited for the measurement of proper motions (PMs) of stars and galaxies in the nearby Universe. Here we summarize the main results and ongoing studies of the HSTPROMO collaboration, which over the past decade has executed some two dozen observational and theoretical HST projects on this topic. This is continuing to revolutionize our dynamical understanding of many objects, including: globular clusters; young star clusters; stars and stellar streams in the Milky Way halo; Local Group galaxies, including dwarf satellite galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds, and the Andromeda galaxy; and AGN Black Hole Jets.