It is now possible to determine proper motions of high-velocity objects in such a way as to obtain with some accuracy the velocity vector relevant to the Sun. If a potential field of the Galaxy is assumed, one can compute an actual orbit. A determination of the velocity of the globular clusterωCentauri has recently been completed at Greenwich, and it is found that the orbit is strongly retrograde in the Galaxy. Similar calculations may be made, though with less certainty, in the case of RR Lyrae variable stars.
The efficiency of the transfer of energy from supernovae into interstellar cloud motions is investigated. A lower limit of about 0·002 is obtained, but values near 0·01 are more likely. Taking all uncertainties in the theory and observations into account, the energy per supernova, in the form of relativistic particles or high-velocity matter, needed to maintain the random motions in the interstellar gas is estimated as 1051·4±1ergs.
