view Abstract Citations (59) References (55) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Distance to the Galactic Center Obtained by Infrared Photometry of RR Lyrae Variables Carney, Bruce W. ; Fulbright, Jon P. ; Terndrup, Donald M. ; Suntzeff, Nicholas B. ; Walker, Alistair R. Abstract We report K-band photometry of 58 RR Lyraes in the field of Baade's Window (1=1°, b=-3.9°). Using a metallicity- and reddening-insensitive relation between MK and log P for RR Lyraes in this field and in another at l=0°, b=-12° studied by Femley et al. [MNRAS, 226, 927 (1987)], we derive the distance to the galactic center. Using the distance scale of Carney et al. [ApJ, 386, 663 (1992)], we find R0=7.8±0.4 kpc. Adjusting that distance scale's zero point to yield an LMC distance modulus (m-M)0=18.5 mag results in R0=8 S kpc. Including the systematic uncertainties from the two different distance scales results in R0=8.3±1.0 kpc. We discuss some implications for the star formation history in the bulge using the derived distances. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: October 1995 DOI: 10.1086/117640 Bibcode: 1995AJ....110.1674C Keywords: GALAXY: CENTER; STARS: VARIABLES: RR LYRAE; GALAXY: STRUCTURE full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (98)