A VLBI resolution of the Pleiades distance controversy
A VLBI resolution of the Pleiades distance controversy
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DOI：
10.1126/science.1256101
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发表时间：
2012-08
期刊：
影响因子：
56.9
通讯作者：
C. Melis;M. Reid;A. Mioduszewski;J. Stauffer;G. Bower
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
C. Melis;M. Reid;A. Mioduszewski;J. Stauffer;G. Bower
我们大多数人都在夜空中看到过昴宿星团，这是少数几个可以用肉眼分别看到的物理上相关的恒星群之一。尽管它离我们很近，但它的距离一直存在争议。Melis等人用射电干涉测量的天文测量结果解决了这一争议，结果显示距离为136.2秒差距（参见Girardi的观点）。其他方法也得到了类似的值，但值得信赖的天体测量卫星Hipparcos只测量了120.2秒差距。新的结果减轻了人们的担忧，即天文学家需要调整他们的恒星演化模型以与希巴谷距离保持一致。《科学》，这期1029页；另见第1001页。高度准确和精确的无线电测量推翻了依巴谷卫星的相反结果。由于它的邻近和年轻，昴宿星团被广泛研究，并作为我们理解年轻恒星物理特性的基石。这一作用受到了“昴星团距离争议”的质疑，其中由光学空间天体测量任务Hipparcos测量的星团距离为120.2±1.5秒差距（pc），与其他技术得出的133.5±1.2秒差距（pc）明显不同。我们提出了一种使用甚长基线射电干涉测量（VLBI）的绝对三角视差距离测量方法来测量昴星团。136.2±1.2 pc的距离是该星团目前最精确的距离，但与Hipparcos距离测定方法不兼容。我们的结果巩固了现有的昴宿星年龄恒星的天体物理模型。
Distance score settled for Seven Sisters Most of us have seen the Pleiades star cluster in the night sky, one of the few groups of physically related stars that are separately visible to the naked eye. In spite of its proximity to us, its distance has been disputed. Melis et al. settle the controversy with astrometric measurements from radio interferometry that reveal a distance of 136.2 parsecs (see the Perspective by Girardi). Other methods yielded similar values, but the trusted astrometry satellite Hipparcos measured only 120.2 parsecs. The new result alleviates the concern that astronomers would need to adjust their stellar evolution models to align with the Hipparcos distance. Science, this issue p. 1029; see also p. 1001 A highly accurate and precise radio measurement overrules a contrary result from the Hipparcos satellite. [Also see Perspective by Girardi] Because of its proximity and its youth, the Pleiades open cluster of stars has been extensively studied and serves as a cornerstone for our understanding of the physical properties of young stars. This role is called into question by the “Pleiades distance controversy,” wherein the cluster distance of 120.2 ± 1.5 parsecs (pc) as measured by the optical space astrometry mission Hipparcos is significantly different from the distance of 133.5 ± 1.2 pc derived with other techniques. We present an absolute trigonometric parallax distance measurement to the Pleiades cluster that uses very long baseline radio interferometry (VLBI). This distance of 136.2 ± 1.2 pc is the most accurate and precise yet presented for the cluster and is incompatible with the Hipparcos distance determination. Our results cement existing astrophysical models for Pleiades-age stars.