VLBA13B-353

VLBA Pleiades Distance Controversy Extension

Abstract

We are in the midst of the NRAO Key Science Project to determine the most accurate trigonometric parallax to the Pleiades cluster and hence resolve the "Pleiades distance controversy". We have already obtained a parallax for the cluster member HII1136 (D=138.6+/-1.2 pc) that provides compelling evidence that the Hipparcos Pleiades distance is wrong. To provide irrefutable evidence that this is indeed the case, we must complete parallax measurements for all 10 of our sources and hence obtain the most accurate and direct distance measurement to the Pleiades cluster. Based on source detection statistics obtained to date, we request an extension to the original project allocation that will allow all necessary parallax measurements to be made.

Investigators

Name Institution
Geoffrey Bower Academia Sinica
Amy Mioduszewski National Radio Astronomy Observatory
John Stauffer California Institute of Technology
Mark Reid Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
Carl Melis * California at San Diego, University of
GBT Operator Green Bank Observatory
vlbaops vlbaops National Radio Astronomy Observatory
vlbiobs vlbiobs National Radio Astronomy Observatory

* indicates the PI