What type of celestial object has an intrinsic luminosity directly related to its period of variation?
Answer
Cepheid Variables
Cepheid Variables are a crucial class of celestial objects categorized as standard candles because their behavior allows astronomers to reliably determine their actual, or intrinsic, brightness. These stars exhibit a noticeable, periodic fluctuation in their luminosity. The period over which a Cepheid Variable pulses is directly and reliably correlated with its absolute brightness. By measuring this period from Earth, astronomers can infer the true luminosity and subsequently calculate the vast distance to the star or galaxy containing it, provided the measurement can be accurately made.
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