Distances to 24 Galaxies in the Direction of the Virgo Cluster and a Determination of the Hubble Constant

Abstract

To study the spatial distribution of galaxies lying between the Virgo cluster and the Local Group, a search was made for probable nearby galaxies. Using the method of brightest stars and of blue and red supergiants made it possible to determine the distances to 24 galaxies, among which six relatively nearby galaxies were identified. The results of the distance determinations showed that the maximum in the number distribution of galaxies lies at 17.0 Mpc, which we take as the distance to the Virgo cluster. Using the difference between the distance moduli of two clusters of galaxies, in Virgo and Coma Berenices, from literature sources and the velocity of the latter cluster, we determined the Hubble constant to be H 0 = 77 ± 7 km·sec−1·Mpc−1.