= Leonard–Merritt mass estimator
{wiki=Leonard–Merritt_mass_estimator}
The Leonard–Merritt mass estimator is a method used in astrophysics to estimate the mass of a galaxy or a cluster of galaxies based on the dynamics of the stars or galaxies within it. Specifically, it is often applied to study the mass distribution within a system by analyzing the velocities of stars or galaxies. The estimator takes into consideration the motion (e.g., velocities) of individual stars or galaxies and their spatial distribution to infer the gravitational potential influencing them.
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