THE ARAUCARIA PROJECT: THE DISTANCE TO THE CARINA DWARF GALAXY FROM INFRARED PHOTOMETRY OF RR LYRAE STARS
- Warsaw University Observatory, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, 00-478, Warsaw (Poland)
- Universidad de Concepción, Departamento de Astronomia, Casilla 160-C, Concepción (Chile)
We obtained single-phase near-infrared (NIR) magnitudes in the J- and K-band for a sample of 33 RR Lyrae (RRL) stars in the Carina dSph galaxy. Applying different theoretical and empirical calibrations of the NIR period–luminosity–metallicity relation for RRL stars, we find consistent results and obtain a true, reddening-corrected distance modulus of 20.118 ± 0.017 (statistical) ± 0.11 (systematic) mag. This value is in excellent agreement with the results obtained in the context of the Araucaria Project from NIR photometry of red clump stars (20.165 ± 0.015) and the tip of red giant branch (20.09 ± 0.03 ± 0.12 mag in the J band, 20.14 ± 0.04 ± 0.14 mag in the K band), as well as with most independent distance determinations to this galaxy. The NIR RRL method proved to be a reliable tool for accurate distance determination at the 5% level or better, particularly for galaxies and globular clusters that lack young standard candles, like Cepheids.
- OSTI ID:
- 22520146
- Journal Information:
- Astronomical Journal (Online), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal (Online) Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 150; ISSN 1538-3881
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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