1994/09/29 by Masashi Chiba, Yuzuru Yoshii, Yuzuru Yoshi · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Scientific Research and Discoveries #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/175424
12pp + 2 figures, included as uuencoded postscript file, to appear in ApJ (Part1), TH940929
arxiv created 1994/09/29 · openalex publication_date 1995/03/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We propose a method of distance determination based on the internal structure and dynamics of disk galaxies. The method relies on the universal luminosity profile of a stellar disk represented by an exponential law. Calibrating nearby galaxies with known distances, it is found that the scale length of the disk is tightly correlated with the specific combination of central surface brightness and rotational velocity at a characteristic radius of 2.15 scale lengths from the center. This suggests that the scale length of the disk may be used as an indicator for extragalactic distance scale. The application of this relation to M51 and M100 allows us to arrive at the distances of about 6 and 14 Mpc, respectively, implying a Hubble constant of H0_ = 92-94 km s-1^ Mpc-1^.