An Introduction to Distance Measurement in Astronomy -- Contents -- Preface -- 1 The Importance of Astrophysical Distance Measurements -- 1.1 The Distance to the Galactic Centre -- 1.1.1 Early Determinations of R0 -- 1.1.2 Modern Results -- 1.2 The Distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud -- 1.3 Benchmarks Beyond the Magellanic Clouds: the 3D Universe on Large(r) Scales -- Bibliography -- 2 The Solar Neighbourhood -- 2.1 Geometric Parallax Measurements -- 2.1.1 Trigonometric Parallax -- 2.1.2 Astrometric Advances: Space-Based Missions and Interferometry -- 2.1.3 Secular and Statistical Parallaxes: Moving Groups Method -- 2.2 Dynamical Parallax -- 2.2.1 Mass-Luminosity Relations -- 2.3 Spectroscopic and Photometric Parallaxes -- Bibliography -- 3 From the Milky Way to the Local Group -- 3.1 Basic Stellar Physics as the Key to Understanding Distance Measurements to Local Group Galaxies -- 3.1.1 Stellar Evolution Through the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram -- 3.1.2 From Two to Multiple Stellar Populations -- 3.2 Open and Globular Cluster Hertzsprung-Russell Diagrams -- 3.2.1 Main-Sequence and Subdwarf Fitting -- 3.2.2 Red Clump Stars -- 3.2.3 The (Zero-Age) Horizontal Branch Level -- 3.3 Giants and Supergiants as Standard Candles -- 3.3.1 The Tip of the Red Giant Branch -- 3.3.2 The Red Giant Branch Bump -- 3.3.3 Supergiants as Standard Candles -- 3.4 White Dwarf Sequences -- 3.5 Period-Density Relations -- 3.5.1 The Baade-Wesselink Method -- 3.5.2 Classical Cepheid Variables -- 3.5.3 Mira Variables -- 3.5.4 W Virginis and Other 'Population II' Cepheids -- 3.5.5 RR Lyrae Stars -- 3.5.6 Dwarf and Anomalous Cepheids -- 3.6 Novae as Standard Candles -- 3.7 Geometric Methods -- 3.7.1 Planetary Nebula Expansion Parallaxes -- 3.7.2 Supernova Light Echoes -- 3.7.3 Eclipsing Binary Stars -- 3.7.4 Maser-Based Distance Determinations.

3.8 Pulsars: Distance Measurements Outside the 'Classical' Wavelength Range -- Bibliography -- 4 Reaching Virgo Cluster Distances and Beyond -- 4.1 The Hubble Space Telescope Key Project -- 4.2 Surface Brightness Fluctuations -- 4.3 The Globular Cluster Luminosity Function -- 4.3.1 Elliptical Versus Spiral Galaxy GCLFs -- 4.3.2 The Stellar Population Mix -- 4.3.3 GCLF and GCMF Universality Through Dynamical Evolution -- 4.4 The Planetary Nebulae Luminosity Function -- 4.4.1 Applicability -- 4.4.2 Physical Basis -- 4.5 The Tully-Fisher Relation -- 4.5.1 Wavelength Dependence -- 4.5.2 The Scatter in the Tully-Fisher Relation -- 4.6 Distance Indicators Specific to Elliptical Galaxies -- 4.7 The Colour-Magnitude Relation -- 4.8 HII Regions as Distance Indicators? -- Bibliography -- 5 From Nearby Galaxy Clusters to Cosmological Distances -- 5.1 Cosmological Redshifts -- 5.1.1 Determination of the Current Expansion Rate of the Universe -- 5.1.2 Redshift Surveys and Peculiar Velocities -- 5.1.3 The Prevailing Cosmological Model -- 5.2 Supernovae as Beacons -- 5.2.1 Type Ia Supernovae -- 5.2.2 Type II-P Supernovae -- 5.2.3 A Link to Gamma-Ray Bursts as Standard Candles? -- 5.3 Indirect Techniques to Measure H0 -- 5.3.1 Gravitational Lensing: Time Delays -- 5.3.2 The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect -- 5.3.3 Anisotropies in the Cosmic Microwave Background -- 5.3.4 The Drive for Improved Accuracy -- Bibliography -- 6 Systematic Uncertainties and Common Pitfalls -- 6.1 Common Biases -- 6.1.1 Extinction: Spatial Distribution and Wavelength Dependence -- 6.1.2 Parallaxes: Lutz-Kelker Bias -- 6.1.3 Malmquist Bias -- 6.2 High Versus Low Values of the Hubble Constant: Science or Philosophy? -- Bibliography -- 7 Promises and Prospects -- 7.1 The Way Forward: Where Are Significant Gains Achievable? -- 7.2 The Pleiades Distance Controversy -- 7.3 X-Ray Scattering Haloes.

7.4 Standard Sirens: Listening to Gravitational Waves -- 7.5 Three-Dimensional Mapping of Redshifted Neutral Hydrogen -- 7.6 The Present-Day Distance Ladder -- Bibliography -- Glossary -- Figure Credits -- Index.