A model for the formation of the Local Group

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167885· OSTI ID:5018864

Peebles, P J.E.; Melott, A L; Holmes, M R; Jiang, L R ^[1]

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1. Princeton Univ., NJ (USA) Kansas Univ., Lawrence (USA)

Observational tests of a model for the formation of the Local Group are presented and analyzed in which the mass concentration grows by gravitational accretion of local-pressure matter onto two seed masses in an otherwise homogeneous initial mass distribution. The evolution of the mass distribution is studied in an analytic approximation and a numerical computation. The initial seed mass and separation are adjusted to produce the observed present separation and relative velocity of the Andromeda Nebula and the Galaxy. If H(0) is adjusted to about 80 km/s/Mpc with density parameter Omega = 1, then the model gives a good fit to the motions of the outer members of the Local Group. The same model gives particle orbits at radius of about 100 kpc that reasonably approximate the observed distribution of redshifts of the Galactic satellites. 47 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5018864
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 345; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY
GALAXIES
GRAVITATION
HUBBLE EFFECT
MASS DISTRIBUTION
MILKY WAY
RED SHIFT
TESTING
DISTRIBUTION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies