The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWST

The TRGB−SBF Project team is developing an independent distance ladder using a geometrical calibration of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method in elliptical galaxies that can, in turn, be used to set the surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) distance scale independent of Cepheid variables an...

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Main Authors: Joseph B. Jensen, John P. Blakeslee, Michele Cantiello, Mikaela Cowles, Gagandeep S. Anand, R. Brent Tully, Ehsan Kourkchi, Gabriella Raimondo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/addfd6
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author Joseph B. Jensen
John P. Blakeslee
Michele Cantiello
Mikaela Cowles
Gagandeep S. Anand
R. Brent Tully
Ehsan Kourkchi
Gabriella Raimondo
author_facet Joseph B. Jensen
John P. Blakeslee
Michele Cantiello
Mikaela Cowles
Gagandeep S. Anand
R. Brent Tully
Ehsan Kourkchi
Gabriella Raimondo
author_sort Joseph B. Jensen
collection DOAJ
description The TRGB−SBF Project team is developing an independent distance ladder using a geometrical calibration of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method in elliptical galaxies that can, in turn, be used to set the surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) distance scale independent of Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae. The purpose of this project is to measure the local expansion rate of the Universe independently of the methods that are most at odds with the theoretically predicted value of the Hubble–Lemaître constant H _0 , and therefore isolate the influence of potential systematic observational errors. In this paper, we use JWST TRGB distances calibrated using the megamaser galaxy NGC 4258 to determine a new Cepheid-independent SBF zero-point with the Hubble Space Telescope. This new calibration, along with improved optical color measurements from Pan-STARRS and DECam, gives an updated value of H _0 = 73.8 ± 0.7 (statistical) ±2.3 (systematic) km s ^−1 Mpc ^−1 that is virtually identical to the SBF Hubble–Lemaître constant measured by J. P. Blakeslee et al.
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spelling doaj-art-233d39f9c6d642b097b569b516d810ad2025-08-20T03:14:49ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-0198718710.3847/1538-4357/addfd6The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWSTJoseph B. Jensen0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8762-8906John P. Blakeslee1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5213-3548Michele Cantiello2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2072-384XMikaela Cowles3https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6333-6536Gagandeep S. Anand4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5259-2314R. Brent Tully5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9291-1981Ehsan Kourkchi6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5514-3354Gabriella Raimondo7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5577-7023Utah Valley University , Orem, UT 84058, USANSF’s NOIRLab , 950 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719, USAINAF—Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo , Via Maggini, 64100 Teramo, ItalyUtah Valley University , Orem, UT 84058, USASpace Telescope Science Institute , 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USAInstitute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii , 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USAInstitute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii , 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; Utah Valley University , 800 W. University Parkway, Orem, UT 84058, USAINAF—Astronomical Observatory of Abruzzo , Via Maggini, 64100 Teramo, ItalyThe TRGB−SBF Project team is developing an independent distance ladder using a geometrical calibration of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method in elliptical galaxies that can, in turn, be used to set the surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) distance scale independent of Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae. The purpose of this project is to measure the local expansion rate of the Universe independently of the methods that are most at odds with the theoretically predicted value of the Hubble–Lemaître constant H _0 , and therefore isolate the influence of potential systematic observational errors. In this paper, we use JWST TRGB distances calibrated using the megamaser galaxy NGC 4258 to determine a new Cepheid-independent SBF zero-point with the Hubble Space Telescope. This new calibration, along with improved optical color measurements from Pan-STARRS and DECam, gives an updated value of H _0 = 73.8 ± 0.7 (statistical) ±2.3 (systematic) km s ^−1 Mpc ^−1 that is virtually identical to the SBF Hubble–Lemaître constant measured by J. P. Blakeslee et al.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/addfd6Distance indicatorsGalaxy distancesHubble constant
spellingShingle Joseph B. Jensen
John P. Blakeslee
Michele Cantiello
Mikaela Cowles
Gagandeep S. Anand
R. Brent Tully
Ehsan Kourkchi
Gabriella Raimondo
The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWST
The Astrophysical Journal
Distance indicators
Galaxy distances
Hubble constant
title The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWST
title_full The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWST
title_fullStr The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWST
title_full_unstemmed The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWST
title_short The TRGB−SBF Project. III. Refining the HST Surface Brightness Fluctuation Distance Scale Calibration with JWST
title_sort trgb sbf project iii refining the hst surface brightness fluctuation distance scale calibration with jwst
topic Distance indicators
Galaxy distances
Hubble constant
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/addfd6
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