| Abstract | Using a new determination of the absolute magnitude of RR Lyraes, derived from maximum-likelihood analysis of proper motions and radial velocities of galactic variables, the authors have calculated the distance modulus of the LMC as (m-M) = 18.37±0.15. They find that the RR Lyraes in the SMC lie at a distance of 57±4 kpc [(m-M) = 18.78±0.15]. The authors review other LMC stars, Cepheids, cluster main-sequence fitting and Miras. They have combined these results to derive a "best estimate" of 47±2 kpc [(m-M) = 18.35] as the distance of the LMC. Scaling the Sandage-Tammann and Aaronson, Mould and Huchra distance scales to this LMC modulus gives H0 ≡ 90 km s-1Mpc-1. |
