A Cepheid variable is a type of variable star that pulsates radially, varying in both diameter and temperature. It changes in brightness, with a well-defined stable period and amplitude. Cepheids are important cosmic benchmarks for scaling galactic and extragalactic distances; a strong direct relationship exists between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and its pulsation period.
Zeta Geminorum is a bright star with cluster components, distant optical components and a likely spectroscopic partner in the zodiac constellation of Gemini — in its south, on the left 'leg' of the twin Pollux. It is a classical Cepheid variable star, of which over 800 have been found in our galaxy. As such its regular pulsation and luminosity and its relative proximity means the star is a useful calibrator in computing the cosmic distance ladder. Based on parallax measurements, it is approximately 1,200 light-years from the Sun.
FF Aquilae is a classical Cepheid variable star located in the constellation Aquila, close to the border with Hercules. It ranges from apparent magnitude 5.18 to 5.51 over a period of 4.47 days, meaning it is faintly visible to the unaided eye in rural or suburban settings.
V1401 Aquilae is a single, semi-regular pulsating star in the equatorial constellation of Aquila. It has the designation HD 190390 from the Henry Draper Catalogue, and was formerly designated 64 Sagittarii. The evolutionary status of the star is unclear, and it has been classified as a post-AGB object, a UU Herculis variable, or belonging to the W Virginis variable subclass of the type II Cepheids. It is dimly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 6.38. Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 2,380 light years. It lies 21.5° from the galactic plane.
TT Aquilae is a Classical Cepheid variable star in the constellation Aquila.
Pi Herculis is a third-magnitude star in the constellation Hercules. As one of the four stars in the Keystone asterism, specifically representing the northeastern corner, it is one of the constellation's more easily recognized. It has an apparent visual magnitude of +3.2, which is visible to the naked eye and makes it one of its brighter members. The Gaia spacecraft mission estimated its distance at roughly 112 parsecs from Earth, or about 367 light years away. The overall reduction in the star's visual magnitude due to extinction from the intervening cosmic dust is 0.11.
Classical Cepheids are a type of Cepheid variable star. They are young, population I variable stars that exhibit regular radial pulsations with periods of a few days to a few weeks and visual amplitudes ranging from a few tenths of a magnitude up to about 2 magnitudes. Classical Cepheids are also known as Population I Cepheids, Type I Cepheids, and Delta Cepheid variables.
W Virginis is the prototype W Virginis variable, a subclass of the Cepheid variable stars. It is located in the constellation Virgo, and varies between magnitudes 9.46 and 10.75 over a period of approximately 17 days.
Kappa Pavonis is a variable star in the constellation Pavo. It is the brightest W Virginis variable in the sky.
53 Persei is a single variable star in the northern constellation of Perseus. It has the Bayer designation d Persei, while 53 Persei is the Flamsteed designation. The star is visible to the naked eye as a faint, blue-white hued point of light with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.80. It is located approximately 480 light years away from the Sun, as determined from parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +7.3 km/s.
BL Herculis variables are a subclass of type II Cepheids with low luminosity and mass, that have a period of less than eight days. They are pulsating stars with light curves that frequently show a bump on the descending side for stars of the shortest periods and on the ascending side for longer period stars. Like other type II Cepheids, they are very old population II stars found in the galaxy’s halo and globular clusters. Also, compared to other type II Cepheids, BL Herculis variables have shorter periods and are fainter than W Virginis variables. Pulsating stars vary in spectral class as they vary in brightness and BL Herculis variables are normally class A at their brightest and class F when most dim. When plotted on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram they fall in-between W Virginis and RR Lyrae variables.
RU Camelopardalis, or RU Cam, is a W Virginis variable in the constellation of Camelopardalis. It is also a Carbon star, which is very unusual for a Cepheid variable.
RT Trianguli Australis, or RT TrA, is a BL Herculis variable in the constellation of Triangulum Australe.
BL Boötis is a pulsating star in the constellation Boötes. It is the prototype of a class of anomalous Cepheids which is intermediate in the H-R diagram between the type I classical Cepheids and the type II Cepheids.
R Sagittae is an RV Tauri variable star in the constellation Sagitta that varies from magnitude 8.0 to 10.5 in 70.77 days. It is a post-AGB low mass yellow supergiant that varies between spectral types G0Ib and G8Ib as it pulsates. Its variable star designation of "R" indicates that it was the first star discovered to be variable in the constellation. It was discovered in 1859 by Joseph Baxendell, though classified as a semi regular variable until RV Tauri variables were identified as a distinct class in 1905.
DY Pegasi, abbreviated DY Peg, is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Pegasus. It is a well-studied SX Phoenicis variable star with a brightness that ranges from an apparent visual magnitude of 9.95 down to 10.62 with a period of 1.75 hours. This system is much too faint to be seen with the naked eye, but can be viewed with large binoculars or a telescope. Based on its high space motion and low abundances of heavier elements, it is a population II star system.
SZ Tauri is a variable star in the equatorial constellation of Taurus. The brightness of this star varies from an apparent visual magnitude of 6.39 down to 6.69 with a period of 3.149 days, which is near the lower limit of visibility to the naked eye. The distance to this star is approximately 2,070 light years based on parallax measurements. There is some indication this may be a binary system, but the evidence is inconclusive.
EU Tauri is a variable star in the equatorial constellation of Taurus. With a brightness that cycles around an apparent visual magnitude of 8.07, it is too faint to be visible to the naked eye. The distance to this star is approximately 3,900 light years based on parallax measurements, but it is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −2.5 km/s. The position of this star near the ecliptic means it is subject to lunar occultations.
VZ Cancri is a variable star in the constellation Cancer, abbreviated VZ Cnc. It varies in brightness with a period of 0.178364 days, from an apparent visual magnitude of 7.18 down to 7.91, which lies below the typical threshold of visibility for the naked eye. The distance to this star is approximately 724 light years based on parallax measurements, and it is receding from the Sun with a radial velocity of 25 km/s.
V553 Centauri is a variable star in the southern constellation of Centaurus, abbreviated V553 Cen. It ranges in brightness from an apparent visual magnitude of 8.22 down to 8.80 with a period of 2.06 days. At that magnitude, it is too dim to be visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 1,890 light years from the Sun.
