THE APM PROPER MOTION PROJECT .2. THE LOWER PROPER MOTION STARS

Results are presented from the Automated Plate Measuring (APM) Proper Motion Project. The proper motions are measured from APM scans of Palomar Observatory sky survey and UK Schmidt plates. Details are given regarding the reduction of the data and the removal of systematic errors. The project covers a total sky area of almost 100 deg(2) and has astrometry and photometry for similar to 170000 stars. The overall accuracy of the proper motions is shown to be 5 mas yr(-1), with an error in the absolute zero point of 0.6 mas yr(-1). Values for the solar motion and differential Galactic motions are presented. Measurements of the red stars yield values of A = 19 +/- 6 and B = -13 +/- 6 km s(-1) kpc(-1) for the Oort constants. A rotational shear of - 21 +/- 7 km s(-1) kpc(-1) in the z direction for the disc stars was also observed.