The fundamental cosmic distance scale: state of the art and the Gaia perspective

Abstract

We are pleased to present in this Special Issue of Astrophysics & Space Science a compilation of the latest research on the challenging issue of the cosmic distance scale. In this context, the Gaia astrometry satellite, planned for launch in the fall of 2013, will have a dramatic impact on the definition of the cosmic distance scale as it will provide trigonometric parallaxes, hence geometric distances to unprecedented accuracy of the most powerful “primary” distance indicators thus, in turn, enabling a direct re-calibration of the “secondary” indicators and a global re-assessment of the entire cosmic ladder. At the same time, due to its frequent repeated observations of the sky, Gaia will also have a significant impact revealing the “transient sky” and, most noteworthy, many SNe events. This volume is meant to bring together different aspects of the astronomical distance scale in order