Dynamical models for 673 galaxies at z=0.6-1.0 with spatially resolved (long-slit) stellar kinematic data from LEGA-C are used to calibrate virial mass estimates defined as M_vir_=K{sigma}',int_^2^R, with Ka scaling factor, {sigma}'_,int the spatially integrated stellar velocity second moment from the LEGA-C survey, and R the effective radius measured from a Sersic profile fit to Hubble Space Telescope imaging. The sample is representative for M>3x10^10^M{sun} and includes all types of galaxies, irrespective of morphology and color. We demonstrate that using R=Rsma (the semimajor axis length of the ellipse that encloses 50% of the light) in combination with an inclination correction on {sigma}'_,int_ produces an unbiased Mvir. We confirm the importance of projection effects on {sigma}'*,int by showing the existence of a similar residual trend between virial mass estimates and inclination for the nearby early-type galaxies in the ATLAS3D survey. Also, as previously shown, when using a Sersic profile-based R estimate, a Sersic index-dependent correction to account for nonhomology in the radial profiles is required. With respect to analogous dynamical models for low-redshift galaxies from the ATLAS3D survey we find a systematic offset of 0.1dex in the calibrated virial constant for LEGA-C, which may be due to physical differences between the galaxy samples or an unknown systematic error. Either way, with our work we establish a common mass scale for galaxies across 8Gyr of cosmic time with a systematic uncertainty of at most 0.1dex.

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/936/9/table1 (*LEGA-C JAM parameters)