Large-scale Motions in the Universe: Observations and Simulations

Abstract

The peculiar radial velocities of eight clusters of galaxies, as determined from a variety of distance indicators, are consistent with a bulk flow not greatly different in direction and magnitude from the velocity vector of the Local Group relative to the microwave background radiation. The bulk flow vector is directed to l=266+-18 deg, b=17+-15 deg with a magnitude of 788+-113 km/s. N-body simulations of gravitationally induced peculiar motions from a set of over 1000 clusters of known redshift give reasonably good agreement for the peculiar velocites of the Local Group and Virgo, both in magnitude and direction. Most of the accelerating mass lies within about 40h^-1 Mpc but more distant clusters are necessary to fully account for the magnitude and direction.