Which star other than Sun is the nearest to the Earth?
The star Proxima Centauri in the Constellation Centaurus which is at a distance of nearly 40 trillion km from Earth. It is a faint red Dwarf visible only with a telescope.
What are Variables?
Variables or ariables stars are stars whose brightness increases and decreases periodically.
What are Cepheid Variables?
An Cepheid Variable is a type of variable star. Cepheid variables vary in magnitude over a period from one to sixty days. Also, the longer the period the more luminous the star.
Why are Cepheid Variables important to astronomers?
Since the period and luminosity of a Cepheid Variable are closely related, one can obtain the absolute magnitude of the star by observing its period. Cepheid variables are therefore used by astronomers as “Standard candles” for comparing with other stars.