The wobbly Galaxy: kinematics north and south with RAVE red clump giants

Understand

The RAVE survey, combined with proper motions and distance estimates, can be used to study in detail stellar kinematics in the extended solar neighbourhood (solar suburb).

• Using the red clump, we examine the mean velocity components in 3D between an R of 6 and 10 kpc and a Z of -2 to 2 kpc, concentrating on North-South differences.
• Simple parametric fits to the R, Z trends for VPHI and the velocity dispersions are presented.
• We confirm the recently discovered gradient in mean Galactocentric radial velocity, VR, finding that the gradient is more marked below the plane, with a Z gradient also present.