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SMHASH: a new mid-infrared RR Lyrae distance determination for the Local Group dwarf spheroidal galaxy Sculptor

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Date Issued:
2018
Summary:
We present a new distance estimation for the Milky Way dwarf spheroidal satellite Sculptor obtained from multi-epoch mid-infrared observations of RR Lyrae stars (RRLs). The 3.6 μm observations have been acquired with the Infrared Array Camera onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of the SMHASH program. Mid-infrared light curves for 42 RRLs were obtained, from which we measured Sculptor’s distance modulus to be μ = 19.60 ± 0.02 (statistical) ± 0.04 (photometric) mag (with σsys = 0.09 mag), using the 3.6 μm empirical period–luminosity relations derived from the Galactic globular clusterM4, orμ=19.57±0.02 (statistical) ± 0.04 (photometric) mag (with σsys = 0.11 mag) using empirical relations in the same passband recently derived from the Large Magellanic Cloud globular cluster Reticulum. Both these measurements are in good agreement with values presented in previous works with Sculptor RRLs in optical bands, and are also consistent with recent near-infrared RR Lyrae results. Best agreement with the literature is found for the lattermodulus which is equivalent to a distance of d = 82 ± 1 (statistical) ± 2 (photometric) kpc (with σsys = 4 kpc). Finally, using a subsample of RRLs with spectroscopic metallicities, we demonstrate that these distance estimates are not affected by metallicity effects.
Title: SMHASH: a new mid-infrared RR Lyrae distance determination for the Local Group dwarf spheroidal galaxy Sculptor.
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Name(s): Alessia Garofalo
Victoria Scowcroft
Gisella Clementini
Kathryn V. Johnston
Judith G. Cohen
Wendy L. Freedman
Barry F. Madore
Steven R. Majewski
Andrew J. Monson
Jillian R. Neeley
Carl J. Grillmair
David Hendel
Nitya Kallivayalil
Massimo Marengo
Roeland van der Marel
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2018
Physical Form: pdf
Extent: 18 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: We present a new distance estimation for the Milky Way dwarf spheroidal satellite Sculptor obtained from multi-epoch mid-infrared observations of RR Lyrae stars (RRLs). The 3.6 μm observations have been acquired with the Infrared Array Camera onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of the SMHASH program. Mid-infrared light curves for 42 RRLs were obtained, from which we measured Sculptor’s distance modulus to be μ = 19.60 ± 0.02 (statistical) ± 0.04 (photometric) mag (with σsys = 0.09 mag), using the 3.6 μm empirical period–luminosity relations derived from the Galactic globular clusterM4, orμ=19.57±0.02 (statistical) ± 0.04 (photometric) mag (with σsys = 0.11 mag) using empirical relations in the same passband recently derived from the Large Magellanic Cloud globular cluster Reticulum. Both these measurements are in good agreement with values presented in previous works with Sculptor RRLs in optical bands, and are also consistent with recent near-infrared RR Lyrae results. Best agreement with the literature is found for the lattermodulus which is equivalent to a distance of d = 82 ± 1 (statistical) ± 2 (photometric) kpc (with σsys = 4 kpc). Finally, using a subsample of RRLs with spectroscopic metallicities, we demonstrate that these distance estimates are not affected by metallicity effects.
Identifier: FAUIR000510 (IID)
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000510
Host Institution: FAU

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