Related papers: The Extragalactic Distance Scale
We derive structural parameters for ~2000 globular clusters in the giant Virgo elliptical M87 using extremely deep Hubble Space Telescope images in F606W (V) and F814W (I) taken with the ACS/WFC. The cluster scale sizes (half-light radii…
Determining the distance to the open cluster M29 (NGC 6913) has proven difficult, with distances determined by various authors differing by a factor of two or more. To solve this problem, we have initiated a new photometric investigation of…
Distances and absolute ages for the globular clusters NGC6397, NGC6752, and 47 Tuc are obtained using Main Sequence Fitting. Accurate reddenings and metal abundances (errors of 0.005 mag and 0.04 dex) are obtained by comparing B-V, b-y…
We re-investigated the use of the Hubble diagram to measure the cosmological constant ($\Lambda$) and the mass density of the Universe ($\Omega_M$). We find an important focusing effect in $\Lambda$ for redshifts about 3. This effect…
We present far-ultraviolet (far-UV) images of the rich galaxy cluster ZwCl1358.1+6245, taken with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). When combined with archival HST observations, our data…
We use deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging to derive a distance to the Virgo Cluster ultradiffuse galaxy (UDG) VCC 615 using the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) distance estimator. We detect 5,023 stars within the galaxy, down to a 50%…
The gravitationally lensed Supernova Refsdal appeared in multiple images, produced through gravitational lensing by a massive foreground galaxy cluster. After the supernova appeared in 2014, lens models of the galaxy cluster predicted an…
We used HST to obtain surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) observations of four nearby brightest cluster galaxies (BCG) to calibrate the BCG Hubble diagram of Lauer & Postman (1992). This BCG Hubble diagram contains 114 galaxies covering…
We report a new geometric maser distance estimate to the active galaxy NGC 4258. The data for the new model are maser line-of-sight velocities and sky positions from 18 epochs of Very Long Baseline Interferometry observations, and…
The surface brightness fluctuations (SBF) method measures the variance in a galaxy's light distribution arising from fluctuations in the numbers and luminosities of individual stars per resolution element. Once calibrated for stellar…
Considerable progress has been made in determining the Hubble constant over the past two decades. We discuss the cosmological context and importance of an accurate measurement of the Hubble constant, and focus on six high-precision…
We present high resolution FLAMES/VLT spectroscopy of intracluster planetary nebula (ICPN) candidates, targeting three new fields in the Virgo cluster core with surface brightness down to mu_B = 28.5. Based on the projected phase space…
The standard cosmological model, the $\Lambda$CDM model, is the most suitable description for our universe. This framework can explain the accelerated expansion phase of the universe but still is not immune to open problems when it comes to…
The discrepancy of the Hubble parameter H0 as measured from the cosmic microwave background versus that found from traditional distance ladder measurements has produced considerable discussion about the need for another force in cosmology.…
The spherical infall model first developed by Lema\^{i}tre and Tolman was modified in order to include the effects of a dark energy term. The resulting velocity-distance relation was evaluated numerically. This equation, when fitted to…
The motions of galaxies can be used to constrain the cosmological density parameter Omega and the clustering amplitude of matter on large scales. The mean relative velocity of galaxy pairs, estimated from the Mark III survey, indicates that…
We have obtained FUV spectra of two clusters of galaxies with FUSE, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. The Coma cluster was observed for a total of 28.6 ksec, the Virgo cluster for 10.9 ksec. Neither spectrum shows significant O VI…
We present a new independent determination for the age of one of the oldest open clusters, NGC 188: $6.41 \pm 0.33$ Gyr. We utilize a novel approach where we jointly fit the radial velocities (RVs) and spectral energy distributions (SED) of…
We obtain a robust, non-parametric, estimate of the Hubble constant from galaxy linear diameters calibrated using HST Cepheid distances. Our method is independent of the parametric form of the diameter function and the spatial distribution…
The absolute magnitude M* of the peak of the globular cluster luminosity function (GCLF), approximated by a Gaussian, can be calibrated independently in the Galaxy and M 31 through RR Lyr stars and Cepheids, respectively. They yield, in…