Pulsating Beacons: Revolutionary Measurements Redefine Cepheid Stars

New insights from the VELOCE project on Cepheid stars include detailed pulsation patterns and binary system dynamics, derived from extensive radial velocity measurements.

“Classical Cepheids” are a type of pulsating star that rhythmically brightens and dims over time. These pulsations help astronomers measure vast distances across space, which makes Cepheids crucial “standard candles” that help us understand the size and scale of our universe.

Despite their importance, studying Cepheids is challenging. Their pulsations and potential interactions with companion stars create complex patterns that are difficult to measure accurately. Different instruments and methods used over the years have led to inconsistent data, complicating our understanding of these stars.