Absolute proper motions of globular clusters

VII/195) are inferred from the UCAC2 proper motions of their likely member stars. The median formal error of the cluster proper motions is equal to 0.8marcsec/yr in both right ascension and declination, whereas the proper-motion errors of individual clusters range from 0.2 to 3marcsec/yr.

Tests performed demonstrate the overall validity of the cluster motions; the resulting transverse velocities remain, on the average, virtually constant out to a heliocentric distance of 15kpc and the full space velocity of most of the clusters relative to the Galactic centre remains, on the average, unchanged near 190km/s out to a Galactocentric distance of about 20kpc, in agreement with the overall isothermal structure of the Galactic halo.