Methanol Masers in the Andromeda Galaxy

Abstract

AbstractIs M31 going to collide with the Milky Way, or spiral around it? Determining the gravitational potential in the Local Group has been a challenge since it requires 3D space velocities and orbits of the members, and most objects have only had line-of-sight velocities measured. Compared to the less massive group members, the transverse velocity of M31 is of great interest, as after the Milky Way, M31 is the most dominant constituent and dynamic force in the Local Group. Proper motion studies of M31 are pr…