Cepheid Variable Star in Galaxy M100
The interval it takes for the Cepheid to complete one pulsation is a direct indication of the stars's intrinsic brightness. This value can be used to make a precise measurement of the galaxy's distance, which turns out to be 56 million light-years from Earth. This image was taken on May 31 1994.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
| Id: | opo9449b6 |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 26 October 1994, 19:00 |
| Size: | 240 x 240 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Messier 100 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Star : Type : Variable • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral |
| Distance: | 50 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
