peculiar velocity

peculiar velocity

See peculiar motion.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

peculiar velocity

[pə′kyül·yər və′läs·əd·ē]

(astronomy)

Superposed on the systematic rotation of the galaxy are individual motions of the stars; each star moves in a somewhat elliptical orbit and therefore shows a velocity of its own (peculiar velocity) to the local standard of rest, the standard moving in a circular orbit around the galactic center.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.