W velocity concept from the Astronomy knowledge base

Astronomy View all facts Glossary Help

Next galactic velocity component: space velocity Up: galactic velocity component Previous galactic velocity component: V velocity

W velocity

subject fact

W velocity has definition A star's velocity perpendicular to the Galactic plane. If a star is moving up, its W velocity is positive; if a star is moving down, its W velocity is negative; and if a star does neither, its W velocity is zero. The Sun has a W velocity of +7 kilometers per second, so it is moving up at 7 kilometers per second. In general, the greater a star's W velocity when it crosses the Galactic plane, the farther above and below the plane the star will travel. has source: Croswell, K. 1995 The Alchemy of the Heavens, Anchor Books, 2001-09-27 09:33:27.0
is a kind of galactic velocity component

velocity has base unit length per unit time 2001-09-27 09:33:26.0

quantity has unit 2001-09-27 09:33:12.0

number has value 2001-09-27 09:32:57.0

W velocity	has definition A star's velocity perpendicular to the Galactic plane. If a star is moving up, its W velocity is positive; if a star is moving down, its W velocity is negative; and if a star does neither, its W velocity is zero. The Sun has a W velocity of +7 kilometers per second, so it is moving up at 7 kilometers per second. In general, the greater a star's W velocity when it crosses the Galactic plane, the farther above and below the plane the star will travel.
W velocity	is a kind of galactic velocity component
velocity	has base unit length per unit time
quantity	has unit
number	has value