2013ApJ...762L...8T

A previously derived photometric parallax of 10.10±0.20 mas, d = 99 ±2 pc, is confirmed for Polaris by a spectroscopic parallax derived using line ratios in high dispersion spectra for the Cepheid. The resulting estimates for the mean luminosity of < M_V > = -3.07±0.01 s.e., average effective temperature of < T_eff > = 6025±1 K s.e., and intrinsic color of ( < B > - < V > )₀= +0.56±0.01 s.e., which match values obtained previously from the photometric parallax for a space reddening of E_ B - V_= 0.02±0.01, are consistent with fundamental mode pulsation for Polaris and a first crossing of the instability strip, as also argued by its rapid rate of period increase. The systematically smaller Hipparcos parallax for Polaris appears discrepant by comparison.