# Super massive black hole mass estimation in literature

What is the most accurate method for SMBH mass estimation? In the literature I could find 5 methods : (1) Marconi & Hunt 2003, (2) Hu 2008, (3) Gultekin et al. 2009, (4) Graham 2007, (5) McLure & Dunlop 2002. Please tell me which is more accurate? Also, can you suggest other methods and concern references? Thank you.

• Could you link the references? – Py-ser Nov 3 '14 at 1:18
• Please, cold you summarize the methods that you found? Are you just talking about formulas, or actual methods? I do not think we have so many methods for SMBH mass estimation... – Py-ser Nov 10 '14 at 4:34
• The three that have been linked so far look like calibrations of $M-\sigma$ or $M-L$ relations (or both). So I don't think any is fundamentally more accurate than any other. Not sure about the two that aren't linked (Hu and Graham). I echo @Py-ser's requests for a short explanation of each method... – Warrick Nov 10 '14 at 8:40
• Actually, in one of those papers Gultekin +04 they mention No other single parameter or combination of parameters of the host galaxy has been found to predict the BH mass with less scatter than stellar velocity dispersion, from which my request for a better explanation, though suspecting the OP isn't following the thread anymore. – Py-ser Nov 10 '14 at 8:43