RADIAL-VELOCITIES AND DISTANCES OF OB STARS AT SOLAR DISTANCE TO GALACTIC-CENTER

New radial velocities, spectral types and Hγequivalent widths are given for 16 stars on the solar galactocentric circle. These observations are combined with other recent data to estimate the distance to the galactic centre. A value of ~ 8 kpc is obtained but evidence that non-circular motions are present make the method somewhat unreliable, at least until the nature of the noncircular motions is known. The compatibility of the observations with Kerr's expansion model of the Galaxy is discussed. © 1976 Royal Astronomical Society. Provided by the NASA Astrophysics Data System.