Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introductory review : the cosmic distance scale, past, present, and future -- Dedication in honour of Allan Sandage -- Resolved stars in the Milky Way -- From the Milky Way to the Local Group -- Reaching Virgo cluster distances and beyond -- Cosmological distances -- Summary -- Posters.

Knowing the distance of an astrophysical object is key to understanding it. However, at present, comparisons of theory and observations are hampered by precision (or lack thereof) in distance measurements or estimates. Putting the many recent results and new developments into the broader context of the physics driving cosmic distance determination is the next logical step, which will benefit from the combined efforts of theorists, observers and modellers working on a large variety of spatial scales, and spanning a wide range of expertise. IAU Symposium 289 addressed the physics underlying methods of distance determination across the Universe, exploring the various approaches employed to define the milestones along the road. The meeting provided an exciting snapshot of the field of distance measurement, offering not only up-to-date results and a cutting-edge account of recent progress, but also full discussion of the pitfalls encountered and the uncertainties that remain.