Variable Stars

Watch the video Measuring Distances in the Universe for an introduction to measuring cosmic distances and the critical role that variable stars play in this process.
Read 19.3 Variable Stars: One Key to Cosmic Distances to explore how Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars are used as standard candles to determine cosmic distances, providing insights into the vast scales of the universe.
Watch the video Henrietta Leavitt - Ahead of her time to learn more about her essential contribution to our understanding of the cosmos.
Discovering variable stars and measuring their light curves is an interesting process. Watch the video Variable Star Photometry to learn how astronomers perform this kind of analysis. If you like, you can play with the simulators for yourself.