Work

Estimating the Mass of the Milky Way Using the Sun's Orbital Motion

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This project provides an estimation of the mass of the Milky Way inside the Sun's orbital distance from the Galactic Centre. Based on the Sun's orbital velocity and its distance from the Galactic Centre, the project uses Newton's law of universal gravitation and principles of circular motion to estimate the mass of the Milky Way inside the Sun's orbit. The approximation uses a circular orbit and spherical symmetry. The calculations and limitations related to these approximations are presented along with a discussion of the difference between the mass of the Milky Way inside the Sun's orbit and the total mass of the Milky Way. This is an independent educational physics project applying established principles of classical mechanics to an astronomical problem.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.24051296

Author: Saraf, Anirudh

Language: English

Topic: Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7225589745

FWCI:

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