Classical Cepheid variable
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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.
Delta Cephei lightcurve
Cepheid variable
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Photos
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.
RS Puppis, one of the brightest known Cepheid variable stars in the Milky Way galaxy (Hubble Space Telescope)
Illustration of Cepheid variables (red dots) at the center of the Milky Way
Light curve of Delta Cephei, the prototype of classical cepheids, showing the regular variations produced by intrinsic stellar pulsations