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| Paper: |
Influence of Metallicity on Distance Indicators in the Near Universe: the Red Clump |
| Volume: |
349, Astrophysics of Variable Stars |
| Page: |
363 |
| Authors: |
Van Helshoecht, V.; Groenewegen, M.A.T. |
| Abstract: |
Recently the red clump of clusters has come under consideration as a distance indicator. We have investigated how the K-band magnitude of the red clump [MK(RC)] depends on age and metallicity, using 2MASS infrared data for a sample of 31 open clusters. Through such a statistical analysis the MK(RC) of a cluster can be predicted. In combination with the apparent magnitude, one can then calculate the distance. We show that a constant value of MK(RC) = −1.57 ± 0.07 is a reasonable assumption for clusters with a metallicity between −0.5 and +0.2 dex and an age between 108.5 and 109.9 years. |
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