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Klappentext This is a comprehensive account of RR Lyrae stars! and traces the story from their initial discovery a century ago! through to their present status. This book reviews our current understanding of RR Lyrae stars. It is a unique explanation of the multiple applications of these variable stars for a range of astrophysical problems. Horace A. Smith describes the use of RR Lyrae stars as probes of old stellar populations! both in the Milky Way and other galaxies! and as an outstanding testing ground for stellar evolution and pulsation theories. He stresses the significance of variable stars for our ultimate understanding of the history and scale of the Milky Way and nearer extragalactic systems. For advanced students and researchers of astronomy! this is a definitive account of the modern theories surrounding RR Lyrae stars. Zusammenfassung This book reviews our current understanding of RR Lyrae stars. It is a unique explanation of the multiple applications of these variable stars for a range of astrophysical problems. Horace A. Smith stresses the significance of variable stars for our understanding of the history and scale of the Milky Way. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. The absolute magnitude of the RR Lyrae stars; 3. RR Lyrae stars in globular clusters; 4. RR Lyrae stars of the galactic field; 5. Period changes, the Blanzhko effect, and the double mode pulsation; 6. RR Lyrae stars beyond the Milky Way; Glossary of symbols; Short list of journal abbreviations; References; Index.
