The Orbits of 48 Globular Clusters in a Milky Way–like Barred Galaxy

Abstract

The effect of a barred potential (such as the one of the Milky Way) on the galactic orbits of forty-eight globular clusters for which absolute proper motions are known is studied. The orbital characteristics are compared with those obtained for the case of an axisymmetric galactic potential. Tidal radii are computed and discussed for both the better known axisymmetric case and that including a bar. The destruction rates due to bulge and disk shocking are calculated and compared in both galactic potentials.