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An Analysis of Cepheid Distances Using Bayesian Statistics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Thomas G. Barnes III  and
William H. Jefferys
Thomas G. Barnes III
Affiliation:
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
William H. Jefferys
Affiliation:
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA

Extract

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We have applied an approximately Bayesian and a fully Bayesian analysis to the calculation of Cepheid distances, radii and absolute magnitudes using the surface brightness (Baade–Wesselink) method. Both methods successfully account for errors in the data, provide unbiased distance estimates, and provide objective model selection for the radial velocity curve. In addition, the fully Bayesian analysis objectively selects a model for the magnitude curve; averages over models of various Fourier orders, properly weighted by the posterior probabilities of the individual models; and includes a Lutz–Kelker correction.

The approximately Bayesian method is that described by Jefferys & Barnes (1999) and Barnes & Jefferys (1999). It is a maximum likelihood approach with objective selection of the order of the Fourier series model of the radial velocities.

Type
Part 3. Cepheids, RR Lyrae Stars, Distance Scales
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 176: The Impact of Large-Scale Surveys on Pulsating Star Research , 2000 , pp. 228
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2000

References

Barnes, T.G. & Jefferys, W.H. 1999, in ASP Conf. Ser. Vol. 167, Harmonizing Cosmic Distance Scales in a Post-Hipparcos Era, ed. Egret, D. & Heck, A. (San Francisco: ASP), 243 Google Scholar
Jefferys, W.H. & Barnes, T.G. 1999, Bayesian Statistics 6, ed. Bernardo, J.M., Berger, J.O., Dawid, A.P., & Smith, A.F.M. (Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press), 777 Google Scholar