What does "Pulsating" mean?
Table of Contents
Pulsating stars are a type of star that regularly changes brightness. This flickering happens because these stars are not stable. Instead, they expand and contract over time.
How They Work
As a pulsating star's outer layers swell, it becomes brighter. When these layers shrink, the star gets dimmer. This process can be very steady, so astronomers can measure how long it takes for a star to go through a full cycle of bright and dim.
Importance of Pulsating Stars
Studying pulsating stars helps scientists learn about the conditions inside them. By observing their brightness changes, researchers can gather information about a star's size, temperature, and internal structure. This information can also help in understanding the stars' life stages.
Examples
Some well-known types of pulsating stars include Cepheid variables and RR Lyrae stars. These stars are often used as markers for measuring distances in space, which is crucial for mapping our universe.
Pulsating stars show how dynamic and fascinating the universe is, revealing more about the life cycles of stars and the forces at play within them.