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Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.

Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.

Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.

Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.

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15y ago
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7mo ago

The distance to a Cepheid variable star can be calculated using the period-luminosity relationship, which relates the pulsation period of the star to its intrinsic brightness. By measuring the period of the star and its apparent brightness from Earth, astronomers can determine its distance using the inverse square law for light.

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15y ago

You can calculate the distance to any star if you know its luminosity. Look at it and measure how bright it SEEMS to be, and you can calculate how far away it is. The trick is to know the absolute luminosity.

That's where the Cepheid variable stars come in. The period, or time between maximum brilliance points, is very nearly correlated with the absolute luminosity. It's difficult to know what the luminosity of a star is, if you don't know how far away it is, but the period is EASY to measure.

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15y ago

Cepheids have a certain relationship between their period, and their absolute luminosity. Thus, their absolute luminosity can be determined. Comparing this with their apparent luminosity allows us to calculate their distance.

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14y ago

The apparent brightness. Also, the period of the star, which is related to its real brightness.

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Q: How do you measure the distance to a cepheid?
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Edwin Hubble demonstrated that distant galaxies existed by measuring which type of stars?

Edwin Hubble used Cepheid variable stars to measure the distances to galaxies. These stars have a relationship between their luminosity and pulsation period, allowing astronomers to calculate their distance based on their observed brightness.


Why can't I use Cepheid variables to measure distances to very distant galaxies?

Cepheid variables are not bright enough to be seen in very distant galaxies. In addition, their light can be absorbed by dust, making it difficult to accurately measure their luminosity. Other methods, such as supernovae or redshift, are typically used to measure distances to very distant galaxies.


Why does the Cepheid distance method fail us beyond about 20 Mpc?

The Cepheid distance method becomes less reliable beyond about 20 Mpc due to the difficulty in resolving individual stars in distant galaxies and the uncertainty in correcting for possible metallicity effects in those galaxies. This makes it challenging to accurately measure the period-luminosity relationship needed to calculate distances using Cepheids.


How do you calculate the distance of nebulae?

The distance to nebulae is typically calculated using methods such as parallax measurements, standard candles, and redshift. Parallax involves measuring the apparent shift in position of a nebula when viewed from different locations in Earth's orbit. Standard candles use objects of known luminosity to estimate distance based on their apparent brightness. Redshift is a measure of how much light from a nebula has been stretched to longer wavelengths due to its motion away from us, providing information on its distance.


Which measure is not considered when measuring absolute magnitude?

Distance. Absolute magnitude is a measure of the intrinsic brightness of a star, independent of its distance from Earth.

Related questions

Edwin Hubble demonstrated that distant galaxies existed by measuring which type of stars?

Edwin Hubble used Cepheid variable stars to measure the distances to galaxies. These stars have a relationship between their luminosity and pulsation period, allowing astronomers to calculate their distance based on their observed brightness.


What is the most accurate way to determine the distance to a very distant irregular galaxy?

Cepheid variables


What is cepheid phase?

The Cepheid phase is a stage in the life cycle of a star where the star pulsates in a predictable manner, changing in brightness over a fixed period of time. This pulsation is used by astronomers to accurately measure the distance to Cepheid variable stars and other celestial objects.


How did Edwin Hubble measure the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy?

Edwin Hubble measured the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy using Cepheid variable stars as standard candles. By observing how the brightness of these stars changed over time, he could determine their true brightness and then calculate their distance based on their apparent brightness. This allowed him to estimate the vast distance to the Andromeda Galaxy.


What does Cepheid mean?

A Cepheid is a member of a class of pulsating variable stars. The relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period is quite precise, securing Cepheids as viable standard candles and the foundation of the Extragalactic Distance Scale.


Who discovered how to predict changes in the brightness of Cepheid variable stars?

Henrietta Swan Leavitt discovered the relationship between the period and luminosity of Cepheid variable stars in 1908. This discovery led to the development of a method to accurately measure distances to faraway galaxies, known as the cosmic distance ladder.


What was the scientist Henrietta leavitt famous for?

Henrietta Leavitt was famous for her discovery of the relationship between the luminosity and the period of Cepheid variable stars. This discovery allowed astronomers to measure the distance to faraway galaxies and greatly contributed to our understanding of the universe's size and structure.


What instrument measures the distance of the stars?

Astronomers use a variety of instruments to measure the distance of stars, including parallax, spectroscopy, and cepheid variable stars. The parallax method involves measuring the slight shift in position of a star when viewed from different locations in Earth's orbit. Spectroscopy analyzes the light emitted by stars to determine their composition and distance. Cepheid variables are stars that pulsate in a regular cycle, allowing astronomers to calculate their distance based on their brightness.


What is a Cepheid Variable?

A Cepheid Variable is a type of star that pulsates regularly in size and brightness. This pulsation is directly related to the star's luminosity, allowing astronomers to use Cepheids as standard candles to measure astronomical distances. They are important in determining the scale of the universe and have been key in calibrating the cosmic distance ladder.


Cepheid variable stars have been used to determine the?

distance to faraway galaxies by comparing their observed brightness to their known intrinsic brightness. This relationship allows astronomers to calculate the distance to these galaxies using the Cepheid variable stars as "standard candles".


How do you pronounce cepheid?

seh-fee-id or see-fee-id (most common pronunciations I think:) 'seh' as in seven or 'see' as in 'sea' Important variable star for distance calculations.


What is the symbol for CEPHEID in NASDAQ?

The symbol for CEPHEID in NASDAQ is: CPHD.