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Issue A&A
Volume 474, Number 2, November I 2007
Page(s) 515 - 520
Section Galactic structure, stellar clusters, and populations
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20078247



A&A 474, 515-520 (2007)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20078247

The distance to the Orion Nebula

K. M. Menten1, M. J. Reid2, J. Forbrich1, 2, and A. Brunthaler1

1  Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany
    e-mail: [kmenten;brunthal]@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de
2  Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
    e-mail: [reid;jforbrich]@cfa.harvard.edu

(Received 9 July 2007 / Accepted 22 August 2007)

Abstract
We have used the Very Long Baseline Array to measure the trigonometric parallax of several member stars of the Orion Nebula Cluster showing non-thermal radio emission. We have determined the distance to the cluster to be $414\pm 7$ pc. Our distance determination allows for an improved calibration of luminosities and ages of young stars. We have also measured the proper motions of four cluster stars which, when accurate radial velocities are measured, will put strong constraints on the origin of the cluster.


Key words: stars: pre-main sequence -- radio continuum: stars -- techniques: interferometic -- astrometry



© ESO 2007

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