English

RR Lyraes and Cepheids: the Photometric Revolution from Space

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2018-03-28 v1

Abstract

Continuous, high-precision photometry from space revolutionized many fields of stellar astrophysics, and that extends to the well-studied families of RR Lyrae and Cepheid variable stars as well. After the pioneering work of MOST, the CoRoT and Kepler missions released an avalanche of discoveries. We found signals that needed exquisite precision, such as an abundance of additional modes and granulation. Other discoveries, like period doubling, simply needed us to break away from the day-night cycle of the Earth. And the future holds more possibilities, with the BRITE, K2, and Gaia missions at full swing; TESS, taking physical shape; and PLATO securing mission adoption. Here I summarize some of these discoveries and the expectations from future missions.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1803.10026,
  title  = {RR Lyraes and Cepheids: the Photometric Revolution from Space},
  author = {L. Molnár},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1803.10026},
  year   = {2018}
}

Comments

9 pages, 2 images, based on a review talk at The RR Lyrae 2017 Conference (Niepolomice, Poland, 17-21 September 2017), to be published in the Proceedings of the PAS