The transverse velocity of a spiral galaxy can be measured to an accuracy 60 km s 1 by making parallax observations of quasars being microlensed by stars in the disk of the galaxy. To make the measurement, a quasar must be located behind the disk of the galaxy between about 1 and 2 scale lengths from the center. The quasar must then be monitored for microlensing events and the events followed s...

Classical Cepheids (DCEPs) are the most important standard candles in extra-galactic distance scale thanks to Period-Luminosity ($\rm PL$), Period-Luminosity-Color PLC$) and Period-Wesenheit PW$) relations that hold for these objects. The advent of {\it Gaia} mission, particular Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) provided accurate parallaxes calibrate relations. In order fully exploit measurements, ze...

Hipparcos parallaxes have recently become available for a sample of Galactic Cepheids, and we have used these new distances to calibrate the Cepheid periodluminosity (PL) relation at six wavelengths (BV IJHK). Comparing these calibrations with previously published multiwavelength PL relations we find agreement to within 0.07 ± 0.14 mag, or 4 ±7% in distance. Unfortunately, the current parallax ...

We report final results from our 2.5 year infrared parallax program carried out with the European Southern Observatory 3.5m New Technology Telescope and the SOFI infrared camera. Our program targeted precision astrometric observations of ten T type brown dwarfs in the J band. Full astrometric solutions (including trigonometric parallaxes) for nine T dwarfs are provided along with proper motion ...