Abstract
S \(H_{0}\) ES (Supernovae and \(H_{0}\) for the Equation of State of dark energy) 2016–2022 \(HVI\) data for classical Cepheids in the keystone galaxy NGC 4258 yield doubly discordant Wesenheit Leavitt functions: \(\Delta W_{0,H-VI}=-0\overset{\textrm{m}}{.}13\pm 0\overset{\textrm{m}}{.}02\) ( \(-0\overset{\textrm{m}}{.}17\) unweighted) and that is paired with the previously noted \(\Delta W_{0,I-VI}\simeq-0\overset{\textrm{m}}{.}3\) , which in concert with complimentary evidence suggest the 2016 S \(H_{0}\) ES NGC 4258-anchored \(H_{0}\pm\sigma_{H_{0}}\) warrants scrutiny (i.e., \(\sigma_{H_{0}}/{H_{0}}\gtrsim 6\%\) ). Cepheid distance uncertainties are further exacerbated by extinction law ambiguities endemic to such Leavitt relations (e.g., NGC 4258), particularly for comparatively obscured variables (e.g., \(\Delta d\gtrsim 4\%\) , reddened Cepheid subsamples in the Milky Way, M 31, NGC 2442, NGC 4424, NGC 5643, NGC 7250). Lastly, during the analysis it was identified that the 2022 S \(H_{0}\) ES database relays incorrect SMC Cepheid photometry.