Delta Cephei (δ Cep, δ Cephei) is the Bayer designation for a quadruple star system[4] located approximately 887 light-years away in the northern constellation of Cepheus, the King. At this distance, the visual magnitude of the star is diminished by 0.23 as a result of extinction caused by gas and dust along the line of sight.[5] It is the prototype of the Cepheid variable stars that undergo periodic changes in luminosity.
Binary star system in the constellation Cepheus
For the variable star type, see Delta Cephei variable. For the general class of variable stars, see Cepheid variable.
Delta Cephei was discovered to be variable by John Goodricke during 1784. He describes his first observation on October 19, 1784, followed by a regular series of observations most nights until December 28. Further observations were made during the first half of 1785, the variability was described in a letter dated June 28, 1785, and formally published on January 1, 1786.[11] This was the second variable star of this type, with eta Aquilae being discovered just a few weeks earlier, on September 10, 1784.[12]
Properties
As well as being the prototype of the Cepheid class of variable stars, Delta Cephei is among the closest stars of this type of variable to the Sun, with only Polaris being nearer. Its variability is caused by regular pulsations in the outer layers of the star. It varies from magnitude 3.48 to 4.37, and its stellar classification also varies, from about F5 to G3. The pulsation period is 5.366249days, with a rise to maximum occurring quicker than the subsequent decline to minimum.[13]
Phase-folded UBVRI light curves of Delta Cephei showing magnitude versus pulsation phase.[14]
Because the period of this class of variable is dependent on the star's luminosity, Delta Cephei is of particular importance as a calibrator for the period-luminosity relationship, since its distance is now one of the most precisely established for a Cepheid. This accuracy is thanks in part to its membership of a star cluster[6][15] and the availability of precise Hubble Space Telescope/Hipparcos parallaxes.[5] Hence, in 2002, the Hubble Space Telescope was used to determine the distance to Delta Cephei within a 4% margin of error: 273 parsecs (890 light-years) .[16] However, a re-analysis of Hipparcos data found a larger parallax than before, leading to a shorter distance of 244 ± 10 pc, which is equivalent to 800light-years.[4]
Hermes Radial Velocity Curve of Delta CepheiA. The offset between points of identical color is due to the spectroscopic companion, Delta CepheiB.
Radial velocity measurements of Delta Cephei have revealed the presence of a small spectroscopic companion star on a 6-year orbit around Delta CepheiA.[4] The mass of this companion is about one tenth of the mass of Delta Cephei and the two come to within 2astronomical units at pericenter passage. The presence of this companion will have to be taken into account when Gaia measures Delta Cephei's parallax (distance). The outer visual companion Delta CepheiC (HD 213307) may also be a spectroscopic[17] and astrometric binary.[5]
Stars of this type are believed to form with masses of 3–12times that of the Sun, and then have passed through the main sequence as B-type stars. With the hydrogen consumed in their core region, these unstable stars are now passing through later stages of nuclear burning.[18] The estimated mass of Delta Cephei, as derived from the color index, is 4.5 ± 0.3 times the mass of the Sun. By comparison, the mass derived from evolutionary models is 5.0 - 5.25 times the Sun's mass.[4] At this stage of its evolution, the outer layers of the star have expanded to an average of 44.5times the girth of the Sun.[7]
Bow shock around Delta Cephei
Delta Cephei is emitting around 2,000times the Sun's luminosity from the outer atmosphere. This is producing a strong stellar wind, which, in combination with the pulsations and shocks in the star's atmosphere,[19] is ejecting mass at the rate of (1.0 ± 0.8) × 10−6 solar masses per year, or the equivalent to the mass of the Sun roughly every million years. This matter is flowing outward at a velocity of about 35km s−1. The result of this expelled gas is the formation of a nebula about 1parsec across, centered on Delta Cephei, and containing 0.07–0.21solar masses of neutral hydrogen.[7] A bow shock is being formed where the stellar wind is colliding with the surrounding interstellar medium.[20]
The peculiar velocity of Delta Cephei is 13.5 ± 2.9 km s−1 relative to its neighbors.[21] It is a suspected member of the Cep OB6 star cluster, and hence may be around the same age as the cluster: around 79million years.[6] At an angular separation of 40arc seconds from Delta Cephei is a 7.5magnitude companion star with the identifier HD213307, called component C in multiple star catalogues, which is visible in small telescopes. HD 213307 itself is a binary star system with a combined stellar classification of B7–8III–IV. It is heating the matter being ejected by the stellar wind of Delta Cephei, causing the surrounding circumstellar material to emit infrared radiation.[20]
Engle, S. G.; Guinan, E. F.; Harper, G. M.; Neilson, H. R.; Evans, N. R. (2014). "THE SECRET LIVES OF CEPHEIDS: EVOLUTIONARY CHANGES AND PULSATION-INDUCED SHOCK HEATING IN THE PROTOTYPE CLASSICAL CEPHEID δ Cep". The Astrophysical Journal. 794 (1): 80. arXiv:1409.8628. Bibcode:2014ApJ...794...80E. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/794/1/80. S2CID119189134.
Benedict, G. Fritz; etal. (2002), "Astrometry with the Hubble Space Telescope: A Parallax of the Fundamental Distance Calibrator δ Cephei", Astronomical Journal, 124 (3): 1695, arXiv:astro-ph/0206214, Bibcode:2002AJ....124.1695B, doi:10.1086/342014, S2CID42655824.
Majaess, D.; Turner, D.; Gieren, W. (2012), "New Evidence Supporting Cluster Membership for the Keystone Calibrator Delta Cephei", Astrophysical Journal, 747 (2): 145, arXiv:1201.0993, Bibcode:2012ApJ...747..145M, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/747/2/145, S2CID118672744.
Matthews, L. D.; etal. (January 2012), "New Evidence for Mass Loss from δ Cephei from H I 21 cm Line Observations", The Astrophysical Journal, 744 (1): 53, arXiv:1112.0028, Bibcode:2012ApJ...744...53M, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/744/1/53, S2CID54073380.
Groenewegen, M. A. T. (September 2008), "Baade-Wesselink distances and the effect of metallicity in classical cepheids", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 488 (1): 25–35, arXiv:0807.1269, Bibcode:2008A&A...488...25G, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:200809859, S2CID13871801.
Uesugi, Akira; Fukuda, Ichiro (1970), "Catalogue of rotational velocities of the stars", Contributions from the Institute of Astrophysics and Kwasan Observatory, Bibcode:1970crvs.book.....U.
Percy, John R (December 1984). "Astronomers Celebrate Cepheid Bicentenary". Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Newsletter. 78: L76. Bibcode:1984JRASC..78L..76P.
Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; etal. (April 2011), GCVS - General Catalog of Variable Stars, Institute of Astronomy of Russian Academy of Sciences and Sternberg, State Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University, retrieved 2012-04-01. Note: search on 'del cep' after selecting the 'period' field.
Engle, Scott G.; Guinan, Edward F.; Harper, Graham M.; Neilson, Hilding R.; Remage Evans, Nancy (2014). "The Secret Lives of Cepheids: Evolutionary Changes and Pulsation-induced Shock Heating in the Prototype Classical Cepheid δ Cep". The Astrophysical Journal. 794 (1): 80. arXiv:1409.8628. Bibcode:2014ApJ...794...80E. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/794/1/80. S2CID119189134.
Benedict, G. Fritz; etal. (2002), "Astrometry with the Hubble Space Telescope: A Parallax of the Fundamental Distance Calibrator δ Cephei", The Astronomical Journal, 124 (3): 1695–1705, arXiv:astro-ph/0206214, Bibcode:2002AJ....124.1695B, doi:10.1086/342014, S2CID42655824.
Fernie, J.D. (1966), "Classical Cepheids with companions. I. Delta Cephei", The Astronomical Journal, 71: 119–122, Bibcode:1966AJ.....71..119F, doi:10.1086/109866
Turner, David G. (1998), "Monitoring the Evolution of Cepheid Variables", The Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers, 26 (2): 101, Bibcode:1998JAVSO..26..101T.
Neilson, Hilding R.; Lester, John B. (September 2008), "On the Enhancement of Mass Loss in Cepheids Due to Radial Pulsation", The Astrophysical Journal, 684 (1): 569–587, arXiv:0803.4198, Bibcode:2008ApJ...684..569N, doi:10.1086/588650, S2CID118425772.
Remage Evans, Nancy; Marengo, M.; Barmby, P.; Matthews, L. D.; Bono, G.; Welch, D. L.; Romaniello, M.; Huelsman, D.; Su, K. Y. L.; Fazio, G. (May 2010), "Discovery Of An Infrared Bow Shock Associated With Delta Cephei", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 41: 839, Bibcode:2010AAS...21642601R.
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