Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-22dnz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T05:41:49.927Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Type Ia supernovae as extragalactic distance indicators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2013

Brian P. Schmidt*
Affiliation:
Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia email: brian@mso.anu.edu.au
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are among cosmology's most useful tools for measuring extragalactic distances. Their intrinsic brightness, MV=−19.2 mag, and precision, σ=0.12 mag, make for a unique combination to precisely probe cosmic expansion from the nearby to the high-redshift Universe. I describe the current state of the art for measuring distances to SNe Ia—focusing on the current challenges which ultimately limit their precision—as well as prospects for further refinement. I also highlight cosmological applications where they have been especially valuable, and briefly review some future projects which plan to exploit SNe Ia.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2013