Mathematical Techniques for Stellar Kinematics

Stellar kinematics is concerned with the movements of stars in the vicinity of the Sun, as well as with some aspects of the structure of our Galaxy in the same vicinity. This book discuses mathematical techniques developed for these studies, some classical and employed since the 19th century, such as least squares, and others of more recent origin and not included in other texts dedicated to stellar kinematics, including total least squares, in use since the 1980s, and semi-definite programming, developed since the 1990s. Other useful methods test for the randomness of data and ways to eliminate or minimize discordant data. Professional astronomers and students of astronomy will be interested in these techniques, many developed for use in other areas of science and engineering. Likewise, engineers and mathematicians may be unaware of how their disciplines are applicable to a field such as stellar kinematics.