Infrared tip of the red giant branch and distances to the Maffei/IC 342 group
Journal
Astronomical Journal
Journal Volume
148
Journal Issue
1
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
In this paper, we extend the use of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method to near-infrared wavelengths from the previously used I-band, using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Upon calibration of a color dependency of the TRGB magnitude, the IR TRGB yields a random uncertainty of ∼5% in relative distance. The IR TRGB methodology has an advantage over the previously used Advance Camera for Surveys F606W and F814W filter set for galaxies that suffer from severe extinction. Using the IR TRGB methodology, we obtain distances toward three principal galaxies in the Maffei/IC 342 complex, which are located at low Galactic latitudes. New distance estimates using the TRGB method are 3.45+0.13-0.13 Mpc for IC 342, 3.37 +0.32-0.23 Mpc for Maffei 1, and 3.52+0.32 -0.30 Mpc for Maffei 2. The uncertainties are dominated by uncertain extinction, especially for Maffei 1 and Maffei 2. Our IR calibration demonstrates the viability of the TRGB methodology for observations with the James Webb Space Telescope. © 2014. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Subjects
galaxies: distances and redshifts; galaxies: stellar content; stars: Population II
Type
journal article