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Title:
A Geometric Determination of the Distance to the Galactic Center
Authors:
Eisenhauer, F.; Schödel, R.; Genzel, R.; Ott, T.; Tecza, M.; Abuter, R.; Eckart, A.; Alexander, T.
Affiliation:
AA(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse Postfach 1312, Garching bei München, Germany ), AB(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse Postfach 1312, Garching bei München, Germany ), AC(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse Postfach 1312, Garching bei München, Germany; Also at Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, 366 LeConte Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7300. ), AD(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse Postfach 1312, Garching bei München, Germany ), AE(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse Postfach 1312, Garching bei München, Germany ), AF(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Giessenbachstrasse Postfach 1312, Garching bei München, Germany ), AG(I. Physikalisches Institut der Universität Köln, Zulpicher Strasse 77, D-50937, Cologne, Germany ), AH(Faculty of Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, 76100 Rehovot, Israel )
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 597, Issue 2, pp. L121-L124. (ApJL Homepage)
Publication Date:
11/2003
Origin:
UCP
Astronomy Keywords:
Galaxies: Distances and Redshifts, Galaxy: Center, Galaxy: Fundamental Parameters, Galaxy: Structure
DOI:
10.1086/380188
Bibliographic Code:
2003ApJ...597L.121E

Abstract

We report new astrometric and spectroscopic observations of the star S2 orbiting the massive black hole in the Galactic center that were taken at the ESO VLT with the adaptive optics-assisted, near-IR camera NAOS/CONICA and the near-IR integral field spectrometer SPIFFI. We use these data to determine all the orbital parameters of the star with high precision, including the Sun-Galactic center distance, which is a key parameter for calibrating stellar standard candles and an important rung in the extragalactic distance ladder. Our deduced value of R0=7.94+/-0.42 kpc is the most accurate primary distance measurement to the center of the Milky Way and has minimal systematic uncertainties of astrophysical origin. It is in excellent agreement with other recent determinations of R0.

Based on observations obtained at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory, Chile.

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