Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

On systematic errors in distance estimates of the Virgo cluster and the intrinsic scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167680· OSTI ID:5594933
Estimates of the amplitude of scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation and estimates of the distance to the Virgo cluster are examined. It is suggested that the 0.7-mag scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation reported by Kraan-Korteweg et al. (1988) must be reexamined. The assumptions of Kraan-Korteweg et al. and of Pierce and Tully (1988) are applied to a sample of 131 galaxies. It is found that the use of different subsets of calibrator galaxies by the two studies produces distance estimates which are consistent with the data, although the predicted distance modulus differs by 0.6 mag. It is concluded that no agreement can be reached on the distance of the Virgo cluster derived from the Tully-Fisher relation for spiral galaxies as long as there is no agreement on inclination corrections to magnitudes, diameters, and rotation velocities. 22 refs.
OSTI ID:
5594933
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 343; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English