The Distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud via the Eclipsing Binary HV 2274

Abstract

We present UBV photometry of the eclipsing binary Harvard Variable 2274 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The stellar parameters of this binary system were recently calculated by Guinan et al., who gave both a reddening toward HV 2274 of E(B-V) = 0.083 ± 0.006 and a distance modulus to the LMC of μLMC = 18.42 ± 0.07. The reddening of this system was also determined by Udalski et al., who found E(B-V) = 0.149 ± 0.015. With Udalski et al. B and V photometry, Guinan et al. obtained E(B-V) = 0.12 ± 0.009 and μLMC = 18.30 ± 0.07. Using our UBV photometry, we derive a reddening of E(B-V) = 0.088 ± 0.023, consistent with the original value of Guinan et al. and supporting a longer distance modulus to the LMC of about μLMC = 18.40 ± 0.07. We stress the uncertainties inherent in ground-based UBV photometry and the concomitant uncertainties in determining distances based upon such photometry.