Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Hubble constant as derived from 21 cm linewidths

  • Article
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

The IR 21 cm linewidth–absolute magnitude relation is calibrated by means of local galaxies with known distances, including new distance determinations of M33 and M81. The calibrated relation is applied to 17 Virgo cluster galaxies of type Sab to Sd and yields a cluster modulus of (m−M)0Virgo = 31.47±0.34. Reliable relative distance indicators are used to extend the distance scale to the Coma cluster, for which a distance modulus is found of (m−M)0Coma = 35.39±0.35. The blue 21 cm linewidth–absolute magnitude relation gives slightly larger distances. A combination of the two methods leads to a Hubble constant at the distance of the Coma cluster of H0=55±9 km s−1 Mpc−1. This value agrees with the global value of H0 = 50±7 km s−1 Mpc−1, giving a Hubble time of Ho−1 = 19.5×103 Myr, in aggreement with the age of the chemical elements and with the age of our Galaxy, determined from globular clusters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aaronson, M. & Mould, J. Astrophys. J. 265, 1–17 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dressler, A. Preprint, Mount Wilson and Las Campanas Observatories (1983).

  3. Sandage, A. Astr. J. 88, 1108–1125 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sandage, A. & Carlson, G. Astrophys. J. Lett. 267, L25–28 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sandage, A. Astr. J. (in the press).

  6. Richter, O.-G. & Huchtmeier, W. K. Astr. Astrophys. (in the press).

  7. Sandage, A. & Tammann, G. A. Astrophysical Cosmology (eds Brück, H. A., Coyne, G. V. & Longair, M. S.) 23–81 (Pontifica Academia Scientiarum, 1982); Astrophys. J. 256, 339–345 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Tammann, G. A. & Sandage, A. Highlights Astr. 6, 301–313 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sandage, A. & Tammann, G. A. A Revised Shapley-Ames Catalog of Bright Galaxies, 6 (Carnegie Institution, Washington, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rubin, V. C. IAU Symp. No. 100, 3–8 (1983).

  11. Sandage, A. & Tammann, G. A. Astrophys. J. 151, 531–545 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sandage, A. & Tammann, G. A. Astrophys. J. 157, 683–708 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Madore, B. F. Talk at IAU General Assembly, Patras (1982).

  14. McAlary, C. W. & Madore, B. F. Preprint, Steward Observatory, Tucson (1983).

  15. Graham, J. A. Astrophys. J. 252, 474–480 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Graham, J. A. Highlights Astr. 6, 209–216 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Aaronson, M., et al. Astrophys J. Suppl. 50, 241–262 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mould, J., Aaronson, M. & Huchra, J. Astrophys. J. 238, 458–470 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Aaronson, M., Mould, J. & Huchra, J. Astrophys. J. 237, 655–665 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Yahil, A., Sandage, A. & Tammann, G. A. Physical Cosmology (eds Balian, R., Audouze, J. & Schramm, D. N.) 158 (North Holland, Amsterdam, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Aaronson, M., Persson, S. E. & Frogel, J. A. Astrophys. J. 245, 18–24 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Tifft, W. G. & Gregory, S. A. Astrophys. J. 205, 696–708 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Yahil, A., Sandage, A. & Tammann, G. A. Astrophys. J. 217, 903–915 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kraan-Korteweg, R. C. Astr. Astrophys. 125, 109–111.

  25. Giovannelli, R. C. IAU Symp. No. 104, 273–278 (1983).

  26. Thielemann, F.-K., Metzinger, J. & Klapdor, H. V. Z. Phys. A309, 301–317 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sandage, A. Astrophys. J. 252, 553–573 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. VandenBerg, D. A. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 51, 29–65 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Tammann, G. A. & Sandage, A. Astrophys. J. 151, 825–860 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sandage, A. & Tammann, G. A. Astrophys. J. 194, 223–243 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Sandage, A. Astr. J. 88, 1569–1578 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Sandage, A. & Hardy, E. Astrophys. J. 183, 743–757 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Weedman, D. W. Astrophys. 203, 6–13 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Visvanathan, N. & Sandage, A. Astrophys. J. 216, 214–226 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Tammann, G. A. Supernovae: A Survey of Current Research (eds Rees, M. J. & Stoneham, R. J.) 371–403 (1982).

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mount Wilson and Las Campanas Observatories, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 813 Santa Barbara Street, Pasadena, California, 91101, USA

    Allan Sandage & G. A. Tammann

  2. Astronomisches Institut der Universität Basel, European Southern Observatory, Venusstrasse 7, Binningen, CH-4102, Switzerland

    G. A. Tammann

Authors
  1. Allan Sandage
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. A. Tammann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sandage, A., Tammann, G. The Hubble constant as derived from 21 cm linewidths. Nature 307, 326–329 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307326a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/307326a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation