Bayesian Mass Estimates of the Milky Way: Including Measurement Uncertainties with Hierarchical Bayes

We present a hierarchical Bayesian method for estimating the total mass and mass profile of the Milky Way Galaxy. The new hierarchical Bayesian approach further improves the framework presented by Eadie et al. and Eadie and Harris and builds upon the preliminary reports by Eadie et al. The method uses a distribution function to model the Galaxy and kinematic data from satellite objects, such as globular clusters (GCs), to trace the Galaxy’s …