A Cepheid Search in the Virgo Cluster Galaxy NGC 4571

Physics

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Hst Proposal Id #6833 Cosmology

Scientific paper

We propose to undertake a survey for Cepheid Variables in the Virgo Cluster galaxy NGC 4571 using WFPC2. The determination of the distance to Virgo is key to establishing the value of the H_zero given that the relative distances between more distant clusters and Virgo are now established. Cepheids are arguably the most precise and well-tested method for estimating extragalactic distances. Unfortunately, the existence of a significant line-of-sight depth in the spiral population of Virgo means that a distance to a randomly chosen spiral does not necessarily establish the distance to the core of ellipticals which define the cluster. However, there is strong circumstantial evidence that places some of the Virgo spirals at or very near the core. NGC 4571 is located less than 2.5 degrees from M 87 and is severely stripped of its H I envelope, providing strong evidence for it being in the core, particularly given that the spirals with significant stripping are all within 3 degrees of M 87. In addition, its velocity is 1.5 Sigma below the mean of the cluster. Such galaxies are predicted to be moving very nearly along the line-of-sight and very near the core of the cluster. We plan to obtain 12 epochs of F814W imaging and 4 epochs with F555W. This should result in ~ 20 Cepheids with minimal crowding and allow for a determination of both the distance and internal extinction. The resulting distance should be known to +- 10%. Such a measurement will significantly reduce the uncertainty in the Virgo distance and will be far more effective than observing several randomly chosen spirals spread over the Virgo region.

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