On the masses and relative velocities of galaxies

Contrary to the results obtained by Einasto et al. and Ostriker et al., we show that there is no unambiguous dynamical evidence which demonstrates that galaxies have very massive halos. For our own Galaxy an upper limit to the mass of approx.2times1011 M/sub sun/ out to approx.70 kpc is set, following the work of Hodge, by two dwarf ellipticals, the Draco and Sculptor systems. The result that M (R) varies as R suggested by Ostriker et al. is entirely dependent on the assumptions (a) that all systems studied are physical systems, and (b) that they are bound. In many cases these assumptions are in doubt. It is shown that the scale of internal velocities in galaxies and relative velocities between galaxies is remarkably constant with a radial component approximately 300 km s-1. Significantly larger values of this quantity are only found in rich clusters of galaxies. (U.S.)