A distance determination to the Small Magellanic Cloud with an accuracy of better than 2 percent based on late-type eclipsing binary stars

Understand

We present a new study of late-type eclipsing binary stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) undertaken with the aim of improving the distance determination to this important galaxy.

• A sample of 10 new detached, double-lined eclipsing binaries indentified from the OGLE variable star catalogues and consisting of F- and G-type giant components has been analysed.
• The absolute physical parameters of the individual components have been measured with a typical accuracy of better than 3%.
• All but one of the systems consist of young and intermediate population stars with masses in the range of 1.4 to 3.8 M_Sun.