Planetary nebulae as standard candles .11. Application to spiral galaxies

被引:178
作者
Feldmeier, JJ [1 ]
Ciardullo, R [1 ]
Jacoby, GH [1 ]
机构
[1] KITT PEAK NATL OBSERV, NATL OPT ASTRON OBSERV, TUCSON, AZ 85726 USA
关键词
galaxies; distances and redshifts; individual; (M51; M96; M101); spiral; planetary nebulae; general; EXTRAGALACTIC DISTANCE SCALE; PRIMORDIAL HELIUM ABUNDANCE; SURFACE-BRIGHTNESS FLUCTUATIONS; H-II REGIONS; HUBBLE CONSTANT; LUMINOSITY FUNCTION; BRIGHTEST STARS; MAGELLANIC CLOUDS; STELLAR EVOLUTION; NEARBY GALAXIES;
D O I
10.1086/512787
中图分类号
P1 [天文学];
学科分类号
0704 ;
摘要
We report the results of an [O III] lambda 5007 survey for planetary nebulae (PNs) in three spiral galaxies: M101 (NGC 5457), M51 (NGC 5194/5195), and M96 (NGC 3368). By comparing on-band/off-band [O III] lambda 5007 images with images taken in H alpha and broadband R, we identify 65, 64, and 74 PN candidates in each galaxy, respectively. From these data, an adopted M31 distance of 770 kpc, and the empirical planetary nebula luminosity function (PNLF), we derive distances to M101, M51, and M96 of 7.7 +/- 0.5, 8.4 +/- 0.6, and 9.6 +/- 0.6 Mpc. These observations demonstrate that the PNLF technique can be successfully applied to late-type galaxies and can provide an important overlap between the Population I and Population II distance scales. We also discuss some special problems associated with using the PNLF in spiral galaxies, including the effects of dust and the possible presence of [O III] bright supernova remnants.
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页码:231 / +
页数:1
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