The Cepheid Distance to the Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 4151
W. Yuan, M. M. Fausnaugh, S. L. Hoffmann, L. M. Macri, B. M. Peterson, A. G. Riess, M. C. Bentz, J. S. Brown, E. Dalla Bontà, R. I. Davies, G. De Rosa, L. Ferrarese, C. J. Grier, E. K. S. Hicks, C. A. Onken, R. W. Pogge, T. Storchi-Bergmann, M. Vestergaard
Abstract
Abstract We derive a distance of 15.8 ± 0.4 Mpc to the archetypal Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151 based on the near-infrared Cepheid period–luminosity relation and new Hubble Space Telescope multiband imaging. This distance determination, based on measurements of 35 long-period ( P > 25 days) Cepheids, will support the absolute calibration of the supermassive black hole mass in this system, as well as studies of the dynamics of the feedback or feeding of its active galactic nucleus.
Topics & Concepts
PhysicsCepheid variableAstrophysicsGalaxySupermassive black holeHubble space telescopeHubble sequenceHubble's lawAstronomyActive galactic nucleusBlack hole (networking)Galactic nucleiCalibrationSpace (punctuation)Absolute magnitudeQuasarTelescopeStellar massGalaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaAstrophysical Phenomena and ObservationsAstronomy and Astrophysical Research