The VMC survey – XLI. Stellar proper motions within the Small Magellanic Cloud

We used data from the near-infrared VISTA survey of Magellanic Cloud system (VMC) to measure proper motions (PMs) stars within Small (SMC). The analysed in this study comprise 26 VMC tiles, covering a total contiguous area on sky ~40 deg$^2$. Using multi-epoch observations Ks band over time baselines between 13 and 38 months, we calculated absolute PMs with respect ~130,000 background galaxies. selected sample ~2,160,000 likely SMC member model centre-of-mass motion galaxy. results found for three different choices centre are good agreement recent space-based measurements. systemic SMC, constructed spatially resolved residual PM maps first internal kinematics intermediate-age/old young stellar populations separately. outward that point either towards stretching galaxy or stripping its outer regions. Stellar North might be related "Counter Bridge" behind SMC. show larger region Wing, Bridge. In older populations, further detected coordinated away direction Old Bridge as well stream