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Precision Distances to Dwarf Galaxies and Globular Clusters from Pan-STARRS1 3π RR Lyrae

Hernitschek, Nina; Cohen, Judith G.; Rix, Hans-Walter; Magnier, Eugene; Metcalfe, Nigel; Wainscoat, Richard; Waters, Christopher; Kudritzki, Rolf-Peter; Burgett, William

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Authors

Nina Hernitschek

Judith G. Cohen

Hans-Walter Rix

Eugene Magnier

Richard Wainscoat

Christopher Waters

Rolf-Peter Kudritzki

William Burgett



Abstract

We present new spatial models and distance estimates for globular clusters and dwarf spheroidals orbiting our Galaxy based on RR Lyrae (RRab) stars in the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) 3π survey. Using the PS1 sample of RRab stars from Sesar et al. in 16 globular clusters and 5 dwarf galaxies, we fit structural models in (l, b, D) space; for 13 globular clusters and 6 dwarf galaxies, we give only their mean heliocentric distance D. We verify the accuracy of the period–luminosity relations used in Sesar et al. to constrain the distance to those stars, and compare them to period–luminosity–metallicity relations using metallicities from Carretta et al. We compare our Sesar et al. distances to the parallax-based Gaia DR2 distance estimates from Bailer-Jones et al. and find our distances to be consistent and considerably more precise.

Citation

Hernitschek, N., Cohen, J. G., Rix, H., Magnier, E., Metcalfe, N., Wainscoat, R., …Burgett, W. (2019). Precision Distances to Dwarf Galaxies and Globular Clusters from Pan-STARRS1 3π RR Lyrae. Astrophysical Journal, 871(1), Article 49. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aaf388

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 20, 2018
Online Publication Date Jan 21, 2019
Publication Date Jan 21, 2019
Deposit Date Feb 14, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 871
Issue 1
Article Number 49
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aaf388

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Copyright Statement
© 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





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