A Capture Scenario for the Globular Cluster Centauri

We explore an accretion origin for ω Cen by N -body modeling of the orbital decay and disruption of a Milky Way dwarf satellite. This work is focused on studying a particular satellite model that aims to reproduce the present orbit of ω Cen, as recently determined from absolute proper motions. The model satellite is launched from 58 kpc from the Galactic center, on a radial low-inclination orbit. We find that a capture scenario can produce an ω Cen-like object with the current low-energy orbit of the cluster. Our best model is a nucleated dwarf galaxy with a Hernquist density profile that has a mass of 8 × 10 9 M ☉ and a half-mass radius of 1.4 kpc.