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Cepheid period-luminosity relation

What you are seeing: a Type I Cepheid variable star pulsating with period PP. Left: the star (size + color from radius + TeffT_{\rm eff}). Middle: the V-band lightcurve. Right: the Leavitt Law MV=−2.78log⁡10P−1.35M_V = -2.78 \log_{10} P - 1.35 with the current star and known Galactic calibrators

Figure 1. Pulsating Cepheid + V-band lightcurve + Leavitt period-luminosity diagram. Method: kinematic radial pulsation R(t), PL fit.
period P (days)10.0
animation speed2
presetzG
distance (pc)360

WHAT TO TRY

  • Vary each control and watch the rail readouts respond.
  • Compare the diagnostic plot against the live scene.