The Hubble constant and Virgo cluster distance from observations of Cepheid variables

The distance to the Virgo cluster of galaxies, a primary rung on the ladder to establishing the distance scale of the Universe, 14.9 ± 1.2 Mpc, has been determined through ground-based observations of Cepheid variables in NGC4571. This agrees very well with other modern distance estimates, and the extragalactic distance scale now seems established. Based on this distance, a Hubble constant of H0 = 87 ± 7 km s -1 Mpc -1 has been calculated.