We have combined two epochs of Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 imaging data with
ground-based expansion velocities to determine distances to three planetary
nebulae (NGC 6578, NGC 6884, and IC 2448). We used two variants of the
expansion parallax technique--a gradient method and a magnification method--to
determine the distances. The results from the two methods agree to within the
errors. A fourth nebula was included in the study (NGC 6891), but the expansion
was too small to determine the distance, and only a lower limit was obtained.
This is the first paper in a series which will examine at least 24 nebulae in
total.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, figure 2 is color. accepted AJ, March 200