The effect of metallicity on Cepheid magnitudes and the distance to M33

Vicky Scowcroft*, David Bersier, Jeremy Mould, Peter Wood

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We present the results from a multi-epoch survey of two regions of M33 using the 3.5m WIYN telescope. The inner field is located close to the center of the galaxy, with the outer region situated about 5.1 kpc away in the southern spiral arm, allowing us to sample a large metallicity range. We have data for 167 fundamental mode Cepheids in the two regions. The reddening-free Wesenheit magnitude Wvi period-luminosity relations were used to establish the distance modulus of each region, with μinner = 24.37 ± 0.02 mag and μouter = 24.54 ± 0.03 mag. The apparent discrepancy between these two results can be explained by the significant metallicity gradient of the galaxy. We determine a value for the metallicity parameter of the Period-Luminosity relation γ = δ(m - M) 0/δlogZ = - 0.29 ± 0.11 mag dex-1, consistent with previous measurements. This leads to a metallicity corrected distance modulus to M33 of μγ = 24.53 ± 0.11 mag.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationStellar Pulsation
    Subtitle of host publicationChallenges for Theory and Observation - Proceedings of the International Conference
    Pages43-47
    Number of pages5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009
    EventInternational Conference on Stellar Pulsation: Challenges for Theory and Observation - Santa Fe, NM, United States
    Duration: 31 May 20095 Jun 2009

    Publication series

    NameAIP Conference Proceedings
    Volume1170
    ISSN (Print)0094-243X
    ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

    Conference

    ConferenceInternational Conference on Stellar Pulsation: Challenges for Theory and Observation
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CitySanta Fe, NM
    Period31/05/095/06/09

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