Classification of RR Lyrae variable stars
Clasificación de las estrellas variables tipo RR Lyrae
- Date
- 1895 · confidence medium
- Place
- Boyden Station, Arequipa, Peru
- Credited to
- Solon Irving Bailey
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What was discovered
Working at Harvard Observatory's Peruvian station, Bailey identified and classified, by the shape of their light curves, a group of short-period pulsating variable stars found in globular clusters, distinct from classical Cepheids.
The prototype star RR Lyrae itself had already been flagged as variable by Williamina Fleming before 1899; recognition of this class as distinct from classical Cepheids was consolidated between 1915 and 1930.
What it led to
- Use of RR Lyrae stars as standard candles for galactic distance measurement
- Study of Population II stars and globular clusters
- Cosmic distance ladder