Oort constants

E471607

The Oort constants are two parameters in galactic astronomy that quantify the local rotational properties of the Milky Way near the Sun, particularly its differential rotation.

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Observed surface forms (2)

Surface form Occurrences
Oort constant A 0
Oort constant B 0

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Oort constant
Oort constant
astronomical constant set
galactic dynamics parameter
appliesTo solar neighborhood
thin disk stars near the Sun
assumes approximate axisymmetry of the Galactic disk
small region around the Sun
category Milky Way structure NERFINISHED
astrophysical constants
dependsOn Galactocentric distance of the Sun
expressedIn kilometers per second per kiloparsec
field astrophysics
galactic dynamics
frameOfReference local standard of rest
hasMember Oort constant A NERFINISHED
Oort constant B NERFINISHED
introducedBy Jan Oort NERFINISHED
mathematicallyRelatedTo derivative of angular rotation speed with respect to Galactocentric radius
namedAfter Jan Oort NERFINISHED
quantifies local shear of galactic rotation
local vorticity of galactic rotation
quantify differential rotation near the Sun
local rotational properties of the Milky Way
relatedTo angular velocity of galactic rotation
circular velocity of the Milky Way
epicyclic approximation
epicyclic frequency
galactic rotation curve
shear of galactic rotation
vorticity of galactic rotation
sign negative in the Milky Way near the Sun
positive in the Milky Way near the Sun
symbolForMember A
B
typicalValueApprox -12 km/s/kpc
15 km/s/kpc
usedFor constraining the local shape of the Milky Way rotation curve
converting observed stellar proper motions to galactic rotation parameters
determining local galactic shear
determining local galactic vorticity
estimating Milky Way mass distribution near the Sun
modeling stellar motions in the solar neighborhood
testing axisymmetric models of the Milky Way
usedIn Milky Way kinematics
galactic astronomy
galactic rotation studies

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Jan Oort knownFor Oort constants