Eclipsing Binary Stars as Precise and Accurate Distance Indicators

Eclipsing binary systems have a very large potential to deliver precise and accurate distances not only within the Milky Way, but also to nearby galaxies. Recent applications of this method to measure distances to the Magellanic Clouds revealed that with a properly calibrated relation between surface brightness and color it can yield distances precise to 1% . We expect a big improvement of the surface brightness—color calibration in the near future. It should allow to improve distance determination to the Magellanic Clouds and also allow to measure geometrical distances to other galaxies in the Local Group already now, and even further away with new huge telescopes.