Hipparcos Parallaxes and the Cepheid Distance Scale

Details Hipparcos Parallaxes and the Cepheid Distance Scale Hipparcos Parallaxes and the Cepheid Distance Scale

1997-07-08

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9707091v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

15 pages, 4 figures, Ap. J. Letters, in press

Scientific paper

10.1086/305041

Hipparcos parallaxes have recently become available for a sample of Galactic Cepheids, and we have used these new distances to calibrate the Cepheid period-luminosity (PL) relation at six wavelengths (BVIJHK). Comparing these calibrations with previously published multiwavelength PL relations we find agreement to within 0.07 +/- 0.14 mag, or 4 +/- 7% in distance. Unfortunately, the current parallax errors for the fundamental pulsators (ranging in signal-to-noise = pi /sigma_pi from 0.3 to 5.3, at best) preclude an unambiguous interpretation of the observed differences, which may arise from a combination of true distance modulus, reddening and/or metallicity effects. We explore these effects and discuss their implications for the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Cepheid-based extragalactic distance scale. These results suggest a range of LMC moduli between 18.44 +/-0.35 and 18.57 +/-0.11 mag; however, other effects on the Cepheid PL relation (e.g., extinction, metallicity, statistical errors) are still as significant as any such reassessment of its zero point.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Hipparcos Parallaxes and the Cepheid Distance Scale does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Hipparcos Parallaxes and the Cepheid Distance Scale, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hipparcos Parallaxes and the Cepheid Distance Scale will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-86586