On the Accuracy of Three-dimensional Kinematic Distances

Abstract

Over the past decade, the BeSSeL Survey and the VERA project have measured trigonometric parallaxes to approximately 250 massive, young stars using VLBI techniques. These sources trace spiral arms over nearly half of the Milky Way. What is now needed are accurate distances to such stars which are well past the Galactic center. Here we analyze the potential for addressing this need by combining line-of-sight velocities and proper motions to yield 3D kinematic distance estimates. For sources within about 10 kpc of the Sun, significant systematic uncertainties can occur, and trigonometric parallaxes are generally superior. However, for sources well past the Galactic center, 3D kinematic distances are robust and more accurate than can usually be achieved by trigonometic parallaxes.