Abstract
We determine the distances to the Type Ia supernova host galaxies M66 (NGC 3627) and M96 (NGC 3368) of the Leo I Group using the Tip of the Red Giant Branch (TRGB) method. We target the stellar halos of these galaxies using the Hubble Space Telescope ACS/WFC in the F606W and F814W bandpasses. By pointing to the stellar halos we sample RGB stars predominantly of Population II, minimize host-galaxy reddening, and significantly reduce the effects of source crowding. Our absolute calibration of the I-band TRGB is based on a recent detached eclipsing binary distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud. With this geometric zero-point in hand, we find for M66 and M96, respectively, true distance moduli μ 0 = 30.23 ± 0.04 (stat) ± 0.06 (sys) mag and μ 0 = 30.29 ± 0.02 (stat) ± 0.06 (sys) mag.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 150 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 882 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 10 2019 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science