Amateur astronomers can do useful scientific study of variable stars by visually comparing the star with other stars within the same telescopic field of view of which the magnitudes are known and constant.

Nov 15, 2025 · Variable stars may be classified into three broad types according to the origin and nature of their variability: (1) eclipsing, (2) pulsating, and (3) explosive.

Variable stars are divided into two main categories: Intrinsic: physical changes within or on the surface of the star cause the brightness of the star to vary. Extrinsic: outside occurrence (s), not directly …

Jan 29, 2015 · A variable star is, quite simply, a star that changes brightness. A star is considered variable if its apparent magnitude (brightness) is altered in any way from our perspective on Earth.

Certain stars dramatically fluctuate in brightness. We'll help you find and monitor these dancing stars, explaining why they brighten and dim along the way.

Jan 15, 2023 · We classify a star as a variable star if its light, as seen from the Earth, changes in brightness. A variable star is one that’s known to dim and then brighten again.

The behavior of stars that vary in magnitude (brightness) - known as variable stars - can be studied by measuring their changes in brightness over time and plotting the changes on a graph called a light …

Learn variable star types, light curves, observing methods, and photometry tips in a practical, expert guide for beginners and advanced observers.

The stars we see in the sky aren’t as constant as they seem. When observed over a period of days or years, the amount of light we see from some stars can change. Sometimes that means the star is old …

Despite the apparent constancy of the stars in the night sky, many stars are known to vary in their luminosity or spectral features, with well over 30,000 variable stars having now been catalogued.