2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/7127We have undertaken several projects with the purpose of determining accurate distances to nearby galaxies to calibrate the extragalactic distance scale. Specifically, I describe the DIRECT project which aims to derive the distance to M31 and M33 directly, using detached eclipsing binaries and the Baade-Wesselink method for Cepheids. I also present a ``hybrid'' method of discovering Cepheids with ground-based telescopes using image subtraction and then following them up with the HST to derive Cepheid period-luminosity distances.5 pages, 1 figure. Proceedings of the 6th Hellenic Astronomical Conference (September 2003)Astrophysicstext