The Orbits and Total Mass of the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract

This proceeding overviews our current understanding of the orbital history and mass of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Specifically I will argue that the Clouds are on their first infall about our Milky Way and that their total masses are necessarily ~10 times larger than traditionally estimated. This conclusion is based on the recently revised HST proper motions of the Clouds and arguments concerning the binary status of the LMC-SMC pair and their baryon fractions

Conference proceeding appears in "Lessons from the Local Group: A conference in honour of David Block and Bruce Elmegreen"