Abstract
Classical Cepheids plays a key role in the calibration of the extragalactic distance scale. In spite of their importance, some uncertainties related to their properties remain. In particular, a general consensus on the possible dependence on the metallicity of the host galaxy of the Cepheid properties has not been reached yet. These uncertainties could produce significant systematic errors in the calibration of the secondary distance indicators we need to reach cosmologically significant distances and in turn in the evaluation of the Hubble constant H 0. Possible solutions are discussed.
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Acknowledgements
I’m grateful to Massimo Capaccioli who inspired my activity in the extragalactic distance scale field and I thank the SOC for inviting me to this conference in honor of Massimo’s seventieth birthday.
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Musella, I. (2016). Cepheids and the Distance Ladder. In: Napolitano, N., Longo, G., Marconi, M., Paolillo, M., Iodice, E. (eds) The Universe of Digital Sky Surveys. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, vol 42. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19330-4_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19330-4_11
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