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

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.-W., Magnier, E., Metcalfe, N., Wainscoat, R., Waters, C., Kudritzki, R.-P., & 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: Feb 15, 2019
• 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
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1308079