Cepheid variable

A Cepheid variable (often shortened to Cepheid, sometimes abbreviated CEP) is a type of variable star that varies in temperature and luminosity in a regular cycle, i.e., a type of pulsating star. They are named after the first such star identified, Delta Cephei. There are relationships between their period and stellar characteristics that can be measured or determined, which allows Cepheids to be used as standard candles, as part of the cosmic distance ladder. Some relationships:

• Period-luminosity relation (Cepheid P-L relation).
• Period-luminosity-color relation (i.e., enhanced by including a color index).
• Period-mean density relation.

There are two populations, Type I Cepheids (aka classical Cepheids) and Type II Cepheids, each type with its own period/brightness relation, so which of these populations it falls in must be determined to use it to determine distance. They can be observed in nearby galaxies, allowing determination of distances for galaxies not providing good data by Type Ia supernovae or redshifts. Periods vary from a day to fifty or more. Classical Cepheid variables are yellow giants. Their period/brightness relation is:

Mv = (-2.43 ± 0.12)(log10 P - 1) - (4.05 ± 0.02)

• M_v - absolute magnitude
• P - period in days

More-specific subclasses of Cepheids named after defining examples:

• Delta Cepheid variable (DCEP) after the original Cepheid.
• Cepheid W Virginis (CW) after W Virginis.
• Cepheid W Virginis A (CWA) and Cepheid W Virginis B (CWB) - subclasses with variation periods more than and less than 8 days.