VI photometry of Sextans A Cepheids

All the periodic variables appear to be short-period Cepheids, with periods as small as 0.8 days for fundamental mode Cepheids and 0.5 days for first-overtone Cepheids. These objects have been used, along with measurements of the red giant branch (RGB) tip and red clump, to measure a true distance modulus to Sextans A of {mu}0=25.61+/-0.07, corresponding to a distance of d=1.32+/-0.04Mpc.

Comparing distances calculated by these techniques, we find that short-period Cepheids (P<2-days) are accurate distance indicators for objects at or below the metallicity of the Small Magellanic Cloud. As these objects are quite numerous in low-metallicity star-forming galaxies, they have the potential for providing extremely precise distances throughout the Local Group. We have also compared the relative distances produced by other distance indicators.