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December 14, 2020
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An updated detailed characterization of planes of satellites in the MW and M31

Publicated to:MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 499 (3): 3755-3774 - 2020-12-01 499(3), DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staa3130

Authors: Santos-Santos IM; Domínguez-Tenreiro R; Pawlowski MS

Affiliations

Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam - Author
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
University of Victoria - Author

Abstract

© 2020 The Author(s) We present a detailed characterization of planes of satellite galaxies in the Milky Way (MW) and M31. For a positional analysis, we introduce an extension to the '4-galaxy-normal density plot' method from Pawlowski, Kroupa & Jerjen. It finds the normal directions to the predominant planar configurations of satellites of a system, yielding for each a collection of planes of increasing member satellites. This allows to quantify the quality of planes in terms of population (Nsat) and spatial flattening (c/a). We apply this method to the latest data for confirmed MW and M31 satellite samples, with 46 and 34 satellites, respectively. New MW satellites form part of planes previously identified from a smaller sample of Nsat= 27: we identify a new plane with Nsat = 39 as thin as the VPOS-3 (c/a ∼ 0.2), and with roughly the same normal direction; so far the most populated plane that thin reported in the Local Group. We introduce a new method to determine, using kinematic data, the axis of maximum co-orbitation of MW satellites. Interestingly, this axis approximately coincides with the normal to the former plane: ≥ 45 ± 5 per cent of satellites co-orbit. In M31 we discover a plane with Nsat = 18 and c/a ∼ 0.15, i.e. quality comparable to the GPoA, and perpendicular to it. This structure is viewed face-on from the Sun making it susceptible to M31 satellite distance uncertainties. An estimation of the perpendicular velocity dispersion suggests that it is dynamically unstable. Finally we find that mass is not a property determining a satellite's membership to good quality planes.

Keywords

Cosmology: theoryGalaxies: dwarfGalaxies: kinematics and dynamicsLocal groupMethods: statistical

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position 16/68, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Astronomy & Astrophysics.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 5.87, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-09, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 11
  • Scopus: 14

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-09:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 15.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 15 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 8.75.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 4 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Canada; Germany.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Santos-Santos IM) .