NASA NTRS · 19850055539
Mass distribution in the galactic centre
Abstract
New infrared and submillimeter spectroscopic measurements of the gas dynamics in the central 10 pc of the Galaxy make a convincing case that the mass distribution at the center of the Galaxy is more concentrated than a spherical isothermal stellar cluster. The measurements fit a point mass of about 4 million solar masses, but are also consistent with a cluster where stellar density decreases with radius (R) at least as fast as R to the -2.7, or a combination of a point mass and a stellar cluster. The dynamical information combined with previous 2-micron observations favor a large point mass, which is presumably a massive black hole.
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Crawford, M. K., Genzel, R., Harris, A. I., Jaffe, D. T., Lugten, J. B., Serabyn, E., Townes, C. H., Lacy, J. H.. 1985-06-06. Mass distribution in the galactic centre. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19850055539
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