The Tip of the Red Giant Branch as a Distance Indicator for Resolved Galaxies
Abstract
We show that the I magnitude of the tip of the first-ascent red giant branch (TRGB) of low-mass stars is a distance indicator for resolved galaxies with metal-poor ([Fe/H] < -0.7 dex) old populations, having a precision comparable to primary distance indicators such as Cepheids and RR Lyraes. A comparison of the distances to resolved galaxies based on the TRGB with those derived from Cepheids and RR Lyraes shows that they agree within ‰0.1 mag. Advantages o{ the TRGB method are discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/173334
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...417..553L
- Keywords:
-
- GALAXIES: DISTANCES AND REDSHIFTS;
- STARS: DISTANCES;
- STARS: EVOLUTION;
- STARS: GIANTS;
- STARS: HERTZSPRUNG-RUSSELL DIAGRAM;
- STARS: VARIABLES: CEPHEIDS