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The Carnegie Hubble Program: The Distance and Structure of the SMC as Revealed by Mid-Infrared Observations of CepheidsUsing Spitzer observations of classical Cepheids we have measured the true average distance modulus of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) to be18.96 +/- 0.01 stat +/- 0.03sys mag (corresponding to 62+/- 0.3kpc), which is 0.48 +/- 0.01 mag more distant than the LMC. This is in agreement with previous results from Cepheid observations, as well as with measurements from other indicators such as RR Lyrae stars and the tip of the red giant branch. Utilizing the properties of the mid-infrared Leavitt Law we measured precise distances to individual Cepheids in the SMC, and have confirmed that the galaxy is tilted and elongated such that its eastern side is up to20 kpc closer than its western side. This is in agreement with the results from red clump stars and dynamical simulations of the Magellanic Clouds and Stream.
Document ID
20170002393
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Scowcroft, Victoria
(Carnegie Institution of Washington Pasadena, CA, United States)
Freedman, Wendy L.
(Carnegie Institution of Washington Pasadena, CA, United States)
Madore, Barry F.
(Carnegie Institution of Washington Pasadena, CA, United States)
Monson, Andy
(Carnegie Institution of Washington Pasadena, CA, United States)
Persson, S. E.
(Carnegie Institution of Washington Pasadena, CA, United States)
Rich, Jeff
(Carnegie Institution of Washington Pasadena, CA, United States)
Seibert, Mark
(Carnegie Institution of Washington Pasadena, CA, United States)
Rigby, Jane R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
March 21, 2017
Publication Date
January 5, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher: The Astrophysical Journal
Volume: 816
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0004-637X
e-ISSN: 1538-4357
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN40247
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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