Planetary nebula luminosity function: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:09, 18 September 2007

Revision as of 20:32, 11 December 2007

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<ref name="Ciardullo2003">{{harvnb|Ciardullo|2003}}</ref>

It was not until late 1970s that the initial PNe derived distance estimates were computed. The first study of the PNLF was {{harvnb|Jacoby|1989}}. Ironically, the technique was first applied to galaxies outside our [[Local Group]] before being applied to it. The reason for this odd order of adoption is due to the fact thatbecause any one PNe is not a standard candle and that distance estimates to individual PNe within our own galaxy are very inaccurate, an error factor of 2<ref name="Ciardullo2003" /><ref name="Jacoby1989">{{harvnb|Jacoby|1989}}</ref> being normal. However, by way of sampling a large number of PNe, one may apply the PNLF to produce accurate distance estimates to galaxies. Because PNe are found in all galaxies, the PNLF is unique in that it may be utilized to estimate distances to all large galaxies within the [[Local Supercluster]] independent of their environment and [[Hubble type]].<ref name="Ciardullo2004">{{harvnb|Ciardullo|2004}}</ref>

== Procedure ==