PROPER MOTION

in astronomy, the apparent motion of a star across the celestial sphere at right angles to the observer's line of sight; any radial motion (toward or away from the Sun) is not included. Proper motion is generally measured in seconds of arc per year; the largest known is that of Barnard's star in the constellation Ophiuchus, about 10 yearly. The English astronomer Edmond Halley, in 1718, was the first to detect proper motionsthose of Aldebaran, Arcturus, and Sirius. The symbol for proper motion is the Greek letter m (mu).