variable star
Brightness-changing celestial point
A variable star is a star whose brightness changes over time, whether from internal pulsations, eclipses by companion stars, or other physical processes.
Astronomers classify them by the mechanism and pattern of variation: Betelgeuse is a well-known variable star that dims and brightens irregularly.
The study of variable stars has been central to measuring cosmic distances.
- supergiantHuge luminous evolved star
- MiraAdmirable one, in Latin
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- pulsatingBeating in rhythmic surges
- supernovaExploding massive star
red giant · Polaris · white dwarf · magnitude · periodicity · nova · brightness · amplitude · astronomy · semiregular · eclipsing · flare · radial · oscillation · stellar · dimming · dwarf · fusion
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- space objectsgalaxy, nebula, planet, quasar, asteroid
- celestial eventssolar eclipse, lunar eclipse, meteor shower, eclipse, supernova
- starsstars, Sirius, Polaris, sol, sun
- quiltingquilt, quilting, patchwork, quilts, quilt top
- constellation featurenebula, asterism, belt, dipper, cross pattern
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