Distances to eclipsing binaries. II. Members of galactic clusters and associations.

Distance moduli are computed for three eclipsing binaries known to be members of galactic clusters and associations: CW Cep, V453 Cyg, and AG Per. The distance moduli are computed from the well-determined absolute dimensions, magnitudes, and colors of the components by using a surface-brightness relation (the Barnes-Evans relation) based on observed stellar angular diameters. Comparison with existing distance moduli obtained by the cluster-fitting technique implies that the two independent distance scales differ systematically by less than 0.10 mag for early-type stars. No strong conclusion about the proposed revision of the Hyades distance modulus can be drawn, however, because of the size of expected errors in the splicing of early-type cluster main sequences to that of the Hyades.