The geometry and distance of the Magellanic Clouds from Cepheid variables

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 1986 papers

Abstract

Period, luminosity and colour data on LMC and SMC Cepheids are analysed. A geometrical model for the LMC and the SMC is presented based on the Cepheids. The distance modulus of each Cloud is redetermined and its dependence upon the assumed abundance deficiency in the Clouds is made explicit. New, independent abundances are inferred based on the Cepheids alone, and are found to agree well with the known H II region abundance deficiencies. The luminosity laws in both galaxies, suitably corrected for abundance, are mutually consistent, enabling a ‘universal’ PLC and PL relation to be obtained which incorporates all the photoelectric data. Finally, it is argued that the 21 cm data of Mathewson & Ford are consistent with our view of the SMC as a two-armed galaxy, showing its central bar to us edge on, with a mass of material pulled out of its centre towards the SW seen in projection against the far arm. That the SMC consists of two separated fragments over much of its angular extent seems less plausible.

Related Papers

• → Direct Distances to Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud: Evidence for a Universal Slope of the Period‐Luminosity Relation up to Solar Abundance(2005)117 cited
• → Large Magellanic Cloud Distance from Cepheid Variables using Least Squares Solutions(2008)6 cited
• → THE ACS NEARBY GALAXY SURVEY TREASURY. III. CEPHEIDS IN THE OUTER DISK OF M81(2009)17 cited
• → TheHubble Space TelescopeExtragalactic Distance Scale Key Project. IX. The Discovery of Cepheids in NGC 2090(1998)25 cited
• → On the Absolute Calibration of the Cepheid Distance Scale Using [ITAL]Hipparcos[/ITAL] Parallaxes(2002)8 cited