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Gaia, Variable Stars and the Distance Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2015

P.A. Whitelock  and
M.W. Feast
P.A. Whitelock
Affiliation:
South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), South Africa Astronomy Department, Astronomy, Cosmology & Gravity Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa
M.W. Feast
Affiliation:
South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), South Africa Astronomy Department, Astronomy, Cosmology & Gravity Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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Abstract

Some recent observations of Classical Cepheids, RR Lyrae and Mira variables are used to illustrate their continued importance as standard candles. Gaia will provide a calibration of these stars as distance indicators which should lead to a greatly improved understanding of the formation and evolution of our Galaxy as well as a vital calibration of the extra-galactic distance scale. The importance of infrared observations, as well as a deeper understanding of interstellar reddening and photometric systems, will play a part if the Gaia calibration is to be put to good use.

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