List of variable stars

Last updated

As of 2017, there are over 52,011 known variable stars, [1] with more being discovered regularly, so a complete list of every single variable is impossible at this place (cf. GCVS). The following is a list of variable stars that are well-known, bright, significant, or otherwise interesting.

Contents

Designation (name)ConstellationDiscovery Apparent magnitude (Maximum) [2] Apparent magnitude (Minimum) [3] Range of magnitudePeriodTypeComment
R And Andromeda  9.1409 d Mira variable (M) 
S And (Supernova 1885) Andromeda Ernst Hartwig, August 20, 188510.2 Supernova (SNI) 
U Ant Antlia  1.6 LB  
θ Aps Apus  2.2119 d Semiregular (SRB) 
η Aql Aquila Pigott, 17840.917.17664 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
R Aql Aquila  6.5284 d Mira variable (M) 
V Aql Aquila  1.8353 d Semiregular (SRB) 
R Aqr Aquarius Karl Ludwig Harding, 18106.9387 d Mira variable (M) 
T Aqr Aquarius  7.0202 d Mira variable (M) 
U Ara Ara  6.4225 d Mira variable (M) 
R Ari Aries  6.3187 d Mira variable (M) 
U Ari Aries  8.0371 d Mira variable (M) 
ε Aur (Almaaz) Auriga Johann Heinrich Fritsch, 18210.91 Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/GS) 
R Aur Auriga  7.2458 d Mira variable (M) 
AE Aur Auriga  0.30 Orion variable (INA) 
R Boo Boötes  6.9223 d Mira variable (M) 
W Boo Boötes  0.67450 d Semiregular (SRB:) 
X Cam Camelopardalis  6.8144 d Mira variable (M) 
VZ Cam Camelopardalis  0.1623.7 d Semiregular (SR) 
R Cap Capricornus Hind, 18485.5345 d Mira variable (M) 
η Car Carina Burchell, 18278.6 S Doradus (SDOR)"The unpredictable supergiant"
l Car Carina  0.9035.53584 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
R Car Carina  6.6309 d Mira variable (M) 
S Car Carina  5.4149 d Mira variable (M) 
γ Cas Cassiopeia  1.4 Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS) 
R Cas Cassiopeia  8.9430 d Mira variable (M) 
S Cas Cassiopeia  8.2612 d Mira variable (M) 
W Cas Cassiopeia  4.7406 d Mira variable (M) 
WZ Cas Cassiopeia  2.2 Semiregular (SRB)Visual double star, visible through binoculars
R Cen Centaurus  6.5546 d Mira variable (M) 
S Cen Centaurus  1.565 d Semiregular (SR) 
T Cen Centaurus  3.590.44 d Semiregular (SRA) 
V645 Cen (Proxima Centauri) Centaurus  1.02 UV Ceti (UV) 
δ Cep Cepheus John Goodricke, 17840.895.36634 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) prototypedouble star, visible in binoculars
Vega Lyra 0.090.107 d Delta Scuti variable Brightest variable star in the sky.
μ Cep (Herschel's Garnet Star) Cepheus William Herschel, 17821.67730 d Semiregular (SRC) 
S Cep Cepheus  5.5487 d Mira variable (M) 
T Cep Cepheus  6.1388 d Mira variable (M) 
U Cep Cepheus  2.492.49305 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) 
SS Cep Cepheus  1.190 d Semiregular (SRB) 
ST Cep Cepheus    None Mira variable (M) 
AR Cep Cepheus  0.9 Semiregular (SRB) 
ο Cet (Mira) Cetus David Fabricius, 1596; variability may have been first noted by Johannes Fokkes Holwarda, 16388.1332 d Mira variable (M)"The miraculous"
The first discovered non-ephemeral/cataclysmic variable star.
T Cet Cetus  1.9159 d Semiregular (SRC) 
U Cet Cetus  6.6235 d Mira variable (M) 
W Cet Cetus  7.7351 d Mira variable (M) 
R Cha Chamaeleon  6.7335 d Mira variable (M) 
R CMa Canis Major  0.641.13594 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) 
VY CMa Canis Major  3.1unique (*) 
FW CMa Canis Major  0.50 Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS) 
S CMi Canis Minor  6.6333 d Mira variable (M) 
R Cnc Cancer  5.73362 d Mira variable (M) 
S Cnc Cancer Hind, 18481.969.48455 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DS) 
T Cnc Cancer Hind, 18502.9482 d Semiregular (SRB) 
X Cnc Cancer  1.9195 d Semiregular (SRB) 
T Col Columba  6.1226 d Mira variable (M) 
R Com Coma Berenices  7.5363 d Mira variable (M) 
α CrB (Alphecca or Gemma) Corona Borealis  0.1117.35991 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) 
R CrB Corona Borealis Piggott, 17959.09 R Coronae Borealis (RCB) 
S CrB Corona Borealis  8.7360 d Mira variable (M) 
T CrB Corona Borealis  8.8 recurrent nova (NR) 
U CrB Corona Borealis  1.133.45220 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) 
V CrB Corona Borealis  5.3358 d Mira variable (M) 
W CrB Corona Borealis  6.5238 d Mira variable (M) 
R Cru Crux  0.835.82575 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
R Crv Corvus  7.7317 d Mira variable (M) 
χ Cyg Cygnus Kirch, 168610.9408 d Mira variable (M) 
R Cyg Cygnus  8.3426 d Mira variable (M) 
U Cyg Cygnus  6.2463 d Mira variable (M) 
W Cyg Cygnus  2.1131 d Semiregular (SRB) 
X Cyg Cygnus  1.0616.38633 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
RT Cyg Cygnus  7.1190 d Mira variable (M) 
SS Cyg Cygnus  4.7 dwarf nova UGSS prototype 
SU Cyg Cygnus  0.783.84555 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
CH Cyg Cygnus  2.89 Z Andromedae (ZAND+SR) 
R Del Delphinus  6.2285  d Mira variable (M) 
U Del Delphinus  1.3110 d Semiregular (SRB) 
EU Del Delphinus  1.1159.7 d Semiregular (SRB) 
β Dor Dorado  0.629.8426 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
S Dor Dorado  2.9 S Doradus (SDOR) (prototype)in the Large Magellanic Cloud
R Dra Draco  6.5246 d Mira variable (M) 
T Eri Eridanus  6.0252 d Mira variable (M) 
R For Fornax  5.5389 d Mira variable (M) 
η Gem (Propus) Gemini  0.75233 d Semiregular (SRA+EA) 
ζ Gem (Mekbuda) Gemini  0.5610.15073 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
R Gem Gemini Hind, 18488.0370 d Mira variable (M) 
S Gem Gemini Hind, 18486.7293 d Mira variable (M) 
T Gem Gemini Hind, 18487.0288 d Mira variable (M) 
U Gem Gemini  6.7 dwarf nova (UGSS+E) 
S Gru Grus  9.0402 d Mira variable (M) 
α Her (Rasalgethi) Hercules William Herschel, 17591.26 Semiregular (SRC) 
g Her (30 Her) Hercules  2.089.2 d Semiregular (SRB) 
u Her (68 Her) Hercules  0.682.05103 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) 
S Her Hercules  7.4307 d Mira variable (M) 
U Her Hercules  7.0406 d Mira variable (M) 
X Her Hercules  1.195.0 d Semiregular (SRB) 
R Hor Horologium  9.6408 d Mira variable (M) 
U Hor Horologium  6.3348 d Mira variable (M) 
R Hya Hydra Maraldi, 17047.4389 d Mira variable (M) 
S Hya Hydra Hind, 18486.1257 d Mira variable (M) 
U Hya Hydra  2.4 Semiregular (SRB) 
VW Hya Hydra  3.62.69642 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) 
BL Lac Lacerta  4.8BLLAC prototypeoriginally thought to be a variable star, but later

discovered to be a blazar

R Leo Leo J.A. Koch, 17826.9310 d Mira variable (M) 
R Lep Lepus  6.2427 d Mira variable (M)Hind's Crimson Star
RX Lep Lepus  2.4 Semiregular (SRB) 
R LMi Leo Minor  6.9372 d Mira variable (M) 
RU Lup Lupus  3.8 Orion variable (INT) 
β Lyr (Sheliak) Lyra John Goodricke, 17841.1112.91383 d Eclipsing binary Beta Lyrae type (prototype) 
R Lyr Lyra  1.12 Semiregular (SRB) 
RR Lyr Lyra  1.060.566868 d RR Lyrae variable (prototype) 
U Mic Microscopium  7.7334 d Mira variable (M) 
U Mon Monoceros  2.791.3 d RV Tauri variable (RVB) 
V Mon Monoceros  7.9341 d Mira variable (M) 
R Nor Norma  7.4508 d Mira variable (M) 
T Nor Norma  7.4241 d Mira variable (M) 
R Oct Octans  6.8405 d Mira variable (M) 
S Oct Octans  6.8259 d Mira variable (M) 
V Oph Ophiuchus  4.3297 d Mira variable (M) 
X Oph Ophiuchus  3.3329 d Mira variable (M) 
RS Oph Ophiuchus  8.2 recurrent nova (NR) 
BF Oph Ophiuchus  0.784.06775 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
α Ori (Betelgeuse) Orion John Herschel, 18401.3 Semiregular (SRC) 
δ Ori (Mintaka) Orion John Herschel, 18340.125.73248 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) 
R Ori Orion Hind, 18484.35377 d Mira variable (M) 
U Ori Orion  8.5368 d Mira variable (M) 
W Ori Orion  4.2212 d Semiregular (SRB) 
VV Ori Orion  0.351.48538 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/KE:) 
CK Ori Orion  1.2 Semiregular (SR:) 
κ Pav Pavo  0.879.09423 d Type II Cepheid (CW) 
S Pav Pavo  3.8381 d Semiregular (SRA) 
β Peg (Scheat) Pegasus Schmidt, 18470.43 LB  
ε Peg (Enif) Pegasus 2.8 LC  
R Peg Pegasus Hind, 18486.9378 d Mira variable (M) 
X Peg Pegasus  5.8201 d Mira variable (M) 
β Per (Algol) Perseus Geminiano Montanari, 16691.272.86730 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) (prototype)The Demon Star
DY Persei Perseus R Coronae Borealis / DY Persei / (prototype)
φ Per Perseus  0.1519.5 d Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS) 
ρ Per Perseus  0.70 Semiregular (SRB) 
X Per Perseus  0.97 Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS+XP) 
ζ Phe (Wurren) Phoenix  0.511.66977 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) 
R Pic Pictor  3.75171 d Semiregular (SR) 
R Psc Pisces Hind, 18507.8345 d Mira variable (M) 
TX Psc Pisces  0.42 LB  
L2 Pup Puppis  3.6141 d Semiregular (SRB) 
RS Pup Puppis  1.1541.3876 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
T Pyx Pyxis  8.77 recurrent nova (NR) 
S Scl Sculptor  8.1363 d Mira variable (M) 
RR Sco Scorpius  7.4281 d Mira variable (M) 
RS Sco Scorpius  6.8320 d Mira variable (M) 
RT Sco Scorpius  8.2449 d Mira variable (M) 
R Sct Scutum Pigott, 17954.4146.5 d RV Tauri variable (RVA) 
R Ser Serpens Harding, 18269.24356 d Mira variable (M) 
S Ser Serpens Harding, 18287.1372 d Mira variable (M) 
U Sge Sagitta  2.833.38062 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) 
WZ Sge Sagitta  8.53 dwarf nova (UGSU+E+ZZ) 
RR Sgr Sagittarius  8.6336 d Mira variable (M) 
R Sgr Sagittarius  6.13270 d Mira variable (M) 
U Sgr Sagittarius(in M25) 0.876.74523 d Classical Cepheid (DCEP) 
RT Sgr Sagittarius  8.1306 d Mira variable (M) 
RU Sgr Sagittarius  7.8240 d Mira variable (M) 
RY Sgr Sagittarius  8.2 R Coronae Borealis (RCB) 
VX Sgr Sagittarius  7.08732 d Semiregular (SRC) 
λ Tau Taurus Baxendell, 18480.543.95295 d Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) 
R Tau Taurus Hind, 18498.2321 d Mira variable (M) 
T Tau Taurus  4.2 Orion variable (INT) 
SU Tau Taurus  7.76 R Coronae Borealis (RCB) 
R Tri Triangulum  7.2267 d Mira variable (M) 
R UMa Ursa Major  7.2302 d Mira variable (M) 
T UMa Ursa Major  6.9257 d Mira variable (M) 
U UMa Ursa Major  0.05- 
W UMa Ursa Major  0.730.3336 d Eclipsing binary W Ursae Majoris type (prototype) 
Z UMa Ursa Major  3.2196 d Semiregular (SRB) 
α UMi (Polaris) Ursa Minor  0.273.9696 d Classical Cepheid (DCEPS) 
R Vir Virgo Harding, 18096.0146 d Mira variable (M) 
S Vir Virgo  6.9375 d Mira variable (M) 

Notes

  1. Samus', N. N.; Kazarovets, E. V.; Durlevich, O. V.; Kireeva, N. N.; Pastukhova, E. N. (2017). "General catalogue of variable stars: Version GCVS 5.1". Astronomy Reports. 61 (1): 80. Bibcode:2017ARep...61...80S. doi:10.1134/S1063772917010085.
  2. (visual magnitude, unless marked (B) (= blue) or (p) (= photographic))
  3. (visual magnitude, unless marked (B) (= blue) or (p) (= photographic))

Related Research Articles

A Gamma Cassiopeiae variable is a type of variable star, named for its prototype γ Cassiopeiae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13 Andromedae</span> Star in the constellation Andromeda

13 Andromedae, abbreviated 13 And, is a single, blue-white hued variable star in the northern constellation of Andromeda. 13 Andromedae is the Flamsteed designation, while it bears the variable star designation V388 Andromedae. With a typical apparent visual magnitude of around 5.75, it is dimly visible to the naked eye under good seeing conditions. The distance to this star can be directly estimated from its annual parallax shift of 10.9 mas, yielding a range of 300 light years. At that distance, its brightness is diminished by an extinction of 0.13 magnitude due to interstellar dust. The star is moving closer to the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of −8 km/s.

47 Boötis is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Boötes, located 261 light years away from the Sun. It has the Bayer designation k Boötis; 47 Boötis is the Flamsteed designation. The system is visible to the naked eye as a faint, white-hued star with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.58. It is moving closer to the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of −13 km/s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algol variable</span> Class of eclipsing binary stars

Algol variables or Algol-type binaries are a class of eclipsing binary stars that are similar to the prototype member of this class, β Persei. An Algol binary is a system where both stars are near-spherical such that the timing of the start and end of the eclipses is well-defined. The primary is generally a main sequence star well within its Roche lobe. The secondary may also be a main sequence star, referred to as a detached binary or it may an evolved star filling its Roche lobe, referred to as a semidetached binary.

HD 83944 is a star system in the constellation Carina. This has the Bayer designation m Carinae, while HD 83944 is the identifier from the Henry Draper catalogue. It is a suspected variable with an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 4.51 with an amplitude of 0.5. The system is located at a distance of approximately 226 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and it has an absolute magnitude of 0.31. It is a member of the Carina association of co-moving stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HD 125823</span> Star in the constellation Centaurus

HD 125823, also known as V761 Centauri or a Centauri, is a variable star in the constellation Centaurus. It is a blue-white star that is visible to the naked eye with a mean apparent visual magnitude of +4.41. The distance to this star is approximately 460 light years based on parallax measurements. It is a member of the Upper Centaurus–Lupus subgroup of the Scorpius–Centaurus association.

The General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) is a list of variable stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Its first edition, containing 10,820 stars, was published in 1948 by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, edited by Boris Kukarkin and Pavel Parenago. Second and third editions were published in 1958 and 1968. The fourth edition, containing 28,435 stars, was published in three volumes in 1985–1987. Later, two more volumes were published: the fourth volume containing reference tables and the fifth volume containing extragalactic variable stars. The first release of the fifth edition, which is periodically updated, currently contains 58,035 variable stars; it is available at the GCVS website and at the VizieR astronomical catalogue service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HD 160342</span> Star in the constellation Ara

HD 160342 is a star in the southern constellation of Ara. HD 160342 is its Henry Draper Catalogue designation. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.35, making it very faintly visible to the naked eye under ideal observing conditions. Based upon parallax measurements, is approximately 960 light-years distant from Earth.

A slow irregular variable is a variable star that exhibit no or very poorly defined periodicity in their slowly changing light emissions. These stars have often been little-studied, and once more is learnt about them, they are reclassified into other categories such as semiregular variables.

Chi<sup>2</sup> Orionis Star in the constellation Orion

Chi2 Orionis is a B-type blue supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 4.63 but being quite distant, and heavily extinguished it burns with the greatest absolute visual light magnitude among stars in Orion within the near reaches of the galaxy, 0.9 of a magnitude brighter than Rigel. Since 1943, the spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified. It is considered to be a member of the Gemini OB1 association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSV 1436</span> Star in the constellation Perseus

NSV 1436 is a cataclysmic variable star in the constellation Perseus. It is a probable U Geminorum-type dwarf nova, and outbursts have been observed in 1948 and 2011. It is also listed in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars as V1024 Persei.

T Cygni is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Cygnus. It is a faint system but visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 4.93. Based upon an annual Parallax shift of 8.4 mas, it is located 387 light years away. It is moving closer to the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of −24 km/s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AW Canum Venaticorum</span> Star in constellation Canes Venatici

AW Canum Venaticorum is a variable star in the constellation Canes Venatici. It is visible to the naked eye with a nominal apparent visual magnitude of 4.76. The distance to this star, as measured from its annual parallax shift of 5.3 mas, is around 620 light years. It is moving closer with a heliocentric radial velocity of −44 km/s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nu Fornacis</span> Bluish variable star in the constellation Fornax

Nu Fornacis, Latinized from ν Fornacis, is a single, variable star in the southern constellation of Fornax. It is blue-white in hue and faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 4.69. This body is located approximately 370 light years distant from the Sun based on parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +18.5 km/s. It is a candidate member of the Pisces-Eridanus stellar stream, which suggests an age of 120 million years or less.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GX Velorum</span> Star in the constellation Vela

GX Velorum is a solitary variable star in the southern constellation of Vela. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, blue-white hued star with an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 4.99. Based upon parallax measurements, it is located approximately 4,200 light years distant from the Sun, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +28 km/s. It may be a member of the Vela OB1 association of co-moving stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Y Centauri</span> Variable star in the constellation Centaurus

Y Centauri or Y Cen is a semiregular variable star in the constellation of Centaurus.

Eta1 Hydri, Latinized from η1 Hydri, is a blue-white hued star in the southern constellation of Hydrus. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.76, which may be too faint to be visible to the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 5.27 mas as measured from Earth, the system is located about 619 light years distant from the Sun. At that distance, the visual magnitude of the star is diminished by 0.10 magnitudes of extinction due to interstellar dust. The star is drifting further away with a heliocentric radial velocity of +15 km/s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9 Persei</span> Blue supergiant star in the constellation Perseus

9 Persei is a single variable star in the northern constellation Perseus, located around 4,300 light years away from the Sun. It has the Bayer designation i Persei; 9 Persei is the Flamsteed designation. This body is visible to the naked eye as a faint, white-hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of about 5.2. It is moving closer to the Sun with a heliocentric radial velocity of −15.2 km/s. The star is a member of the Perseus OB1 association of co-moving stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slowly pulsating B-type star</span>

A slowly pulsating B-type star (SPB), formerly known as a 53 Persei variable, is a type of pulsating variable star. They may also be termed a long-period pulsating B star (LPB). As the name implies, they are main-sequence stars of spectral type B2 to B9 that pulsate with periods between approximately half a day and five days, however within this most member stars have been found to have multiple periods of oscillations. They display variability both in their light emission and in their spectral line profile. The variations in magnitude are generally smaller than 0.1 magnitudes, making it quite hard to observe variability with the naked eye in most cases. The variability increases with decreasing wavelength, thus they are more obviously variable in ultraviolet spectrum than visible light. Their pulsations are non-radial, that is, they vary in shape rather than volume; different parts of the star are expanding and contracting simultaneously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V520 Persei</span> Star in the constellation Perseus

V520 Persei is a blue supergiant member of NGC 869, one of the Perseus Double Cluster open clusters. It is an irregular variable star. At a magnitude of 6.55, V520 Persei is the brightest member in either NGC 869 or NGC 884, although the brighter HD 13994 lies in the foreground along the same line of sight.

References

See also