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star streaming

astronomy
Also known as: stream motion

Quick Summary

Star streaming refers to the real or apparent systematic drift of stars. This phenomenon is observed when astronomers analyze the motions of stars within our galaxy, the Milky Way.12

Stellar motions can be determined by measuring a star's proper motion (its movement across the line of sight) and its radial velocity (its movement towards or away from us). By studying these motions, astronomers have identified that stars don't move entirely at random. Instead, they exhibit a preferential direction of motion, known as stream motion, which is somewhat confined to the galactic plane and the direction of galactic rotation. This indicates a commonality of motion among groups of nearby stars.2

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