A VLBI Resolution of the Pleiades Distance Controversy
Carl Melis, Mark J. Reid, Amy J. Mioduszewski, John R. Stauffer,, Geoffrey C. Bower

TL;DR
This paper uses very long baseline radio interferometry to measure the Pleiades cluster's distance, resolving the longstanding controversy by providing a more accurate measurement that challenges previous Hipparcos results.
Contribution
It presents the most precise and accurate distance measurement to the Pleiades using VLBI, resolving the discrepancy with Hipparcos data.
Findings
Measured distance of 136.2±1.2 pc to Pleiades
Confirms the accuracy of VLBI over Hipparcos
Supports existing models of young stars in Pleiades
Abstract
Because of its proximity and its youth, the Pleiades open cluster of stars has been extensively studied and serves as a cornerstone for our understanding of the physical properties of young stars. This role is called into question by the "Pleiades distance controversy" wherein the cluster distance of 120.2+/-1.5 pc as measured by the optical space astrometry mission Hipparcos is significantly different from the distance of 133.5+/-1.2 pc derived with other techniques. We present an absolute trigonometric parallax distance measurement to the Pleiades cluster that uses very long baseline radio interferometry. This distance of 136.2+/-1.2 pc is the most accurate and precise yet presented for the cluster and is incompatible with the Hipparcos distance determination. Our results cement existing astrophysical models for Pleiades-age stars.
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Taxonomy
TopicsAstronomical Observations and Instrumentation · Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies · Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
