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The period-change rate (PCR) of pulsating variable stars is a useful probe of changes in their interior structure, and thus of their evolutionary stages. So far, the PCRs of Classical Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) have been explored in a limited sample of the total population of these variables. Here we use a template-based method to build observed minus computed (O-C) period diagrams, from which we can derive PCRs for these stars by taking advantage of the long time baseline afforded by the Digital Access to a Sky Century @ Harvard (DASCH) light curves, combined with additional data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), the MAssive Compact Halo Object (MACHO) project, Gaia's Data Release 2, and in some cases the All-Sky Automated Survey (ASAS). From an initial sample of 2315 sources, our method provides an unprecedented sample of 1303 LMC Classical Cepheids with accurate PCRs, the largest for any single galaxy, including the Milky Way. The derived PCRs are largely compatible with theoretically expected values, as computed by our team using the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) code, as well as with similar previous computations available in the literature. Additionally, five long-period (P>50 d) sources display a cyclic behavior in their O-C diagrams, which is clearly incompatible with evolutionary changes. Finally, on the basis of their large positive PCR values, two first-crossing Cepheid candidates are identified., 11 pages, 6 figures. Accepted by MNRAS

For both periods of the double-mode classical Cepheid AS Cas we have constructed $$O-C$$ diagrams spanning a time interval of 132 years. The $$O-C$$ diagrams have the shape of parabolas, which has allowed us for the first time to determine the quadratic light elements and to calculate the rates of evolutionary changes in their periods: $$dP_{0}/dt=+0.065({\pm}{0.010})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ for the fundamental mode and $$dP_{1}/dt=+0.163({\pm}{0.006})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ for the first overtone, in agreement with the theoretical calculations for the third crossing of the instability strip. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen has confirmed that the changes in the periods are real.

In the Gaia era, the membership analysis and parameter determination of open clusters (OCs) are more accurate. We performed a census of OC's classical Cepheids based on Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) and obtained a sample of 33 OC Cepheids fulfilling the constraints of the spatial position, proper motion, parallax and evolution state. 13 of 33 OC Cepheids are newly discovered. Among them, CM Sct is the first first-crossing Cepheids with direct evidence of evolution. DP Vel is likely a fourth- or fifth-crossing Cepheids. Based on independent distances from OCs, W_1-band period-luminosity relation of Cepheids is determined with a 3.5% accuracy: = -(3.274 +- 0.090) log P - (-2.567 +- 0.080). The Gaia-band period-Wesenheit relation agrees well with Ripepi et al. (2019). A direct period-age relation for fundamental Cepheids are also determined based on OC's age, that is log t = -(0.638 +- 0.063) log P + (8.569 +- 0.057)., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted by MNRAS

The reduction of all the available photometry for the Cepheid SU Sct has allowed its $$O-C$$ diagram spanning a time interval of 60 years to be constructed. Six abrupt changes in the period have been detected. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen (1993) has confirmed that the changes in the period are real. The absolute magnitude of SU Sct is $$M_{V}\simeq{-}0\overset{\textrm{m}}{.}32$$ , confirming that it belongs to BL Her-type Population II Cepheids.

To construct the rotation curve of the Galaxy, classical Cepheids with proper motions, parallaxes and line-of-sight velocities from the Gaia DR2 Catalog are used in large part. The working sample formed from literature data contains about 800 Cepheids with estimates of their age. We determined that the linear rotation velocity of the Galaxy at a solar distance is $V_0=240\pm3$~km s$^{-1}$. In this case, the distance from the Sun to the axis of rotation of the Galaxy is found to be $R_0=8.27\pm0.10$~kpc. A spectral analysis of radial and residual tangential velocities of Cepheids younger than 120 Myr showed close estimates of the parameters of the spiral density wave obtained from data both at present time and in the past. So, the value of the wavelength $\lambda_{R,\theta}$ is in the range of [2.4--3.0] kpc, the pitch angle $i_{R,\theta}$ is in the range of [$-13^\circ$,$-10^\circ$] for a four-arm pattern model, the amplitudes of the radial and tangential perturbations are $f_R\sim12$~km s$^{-1}$ and $f_\theta\sim9$~km s$^{-1}$, respectively. Velocities of Cepheids older than 120 Myr are currently giving a wavelength $\lambda_{R,\theta}\sim5$~kpc. This value differs significantly from one that we obtained from the samples of young Cepheids. An analysis of positions and velocities of old Cepheids, calculated by integrating their orbits backward in time, made it possible to determine significantly more reliable values of the parameters of the spiral density wave: wavelength $\lambda_{R,\theta}=2.7$~kpc, amplitudes of radial and tangential perturbations are $f_R=7.9$~km s$^{-1}$ and $f_\theta=5$~km s$^{-1}$, respectively., Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables

A statistical method is employed in tandem with new VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) near-infrared observations to determine the Sun’s distance from the Galactic Centre (r0, GC), the Sun’s height from the local mid-plane (z0), and to likewise infer the shape of the Galactic ∼10 Gyr old bulge. Specifically, the conclusions stem from an investigation of 715 high-latitude (|b| > 1°) and centrally symmetric concentrated Type II Cepheids (T2Cs) recently identified in the VVV survey by Braga et al. The analysis yields r0 = 8.35 ± 0.10 kpc and z0 = 10 ± 2 pc. The T2Cs distribution within the effective bulge radius rbulge = 2–3 kpc is an ellipsoid exhibiting axial ratios of ≈1:0.7:0.6, with the major axis inclined at an angle θ ≈ −3° to the Sun–GC sightline. T2Cs do not trace a prominent barred structure at distances >1 kpc from the GC. A key conclusion is that analyses of independent optical and infrared Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) and VVV observations yield consistent results (e.g. r0 > 8.0 kpc and both observations display a comparable shape of an ellipsoid), thus providing a constrained and reduced systematic uncertainty.

The reduction of all the available photometry for the Cepheid V420 Cen has allowed its $$O-C$$ diagram spanning a time interval of 131 years to be constructed. The data obtained provide evidence for the existence of large random fluctuations in the period ( $$\varepsilon/P\approx 0.021$$ ). Fitting the $$O-C$$ residuals by a cubic parabola has made it possible to estimate the rate of secular decrease in the period, $$dP/dt=-353.0({\pm}{3.6})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ . The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen in 1993 has confirmed that the decrease in the period is real.

Measurement of HIV viral load (VL) is the best indicator of success of antiretroviral therapy. We investigated the correlation between results by the Cepheid GeneXpert and a standard of care VL assay (Abbott M2000). This was a prospective study of people living with HIV who attended the department for routine VL measurement with the Abbott M2000. Consenting patients agreed to provide one extra blood sample for VL measurement with the Cepheid GeneXpert assay. One hundred patients consented to participate in the study. There were 18 patients with VL ≥ 40 copies/mL and 75 patients with VL < 40 copies on both assays. The two assays had 93% agreement, with a kappa of 0.79 ( p < 0.001). Treating VL as a continuous variable found measurements to be significantly higher on the Cepheid GeneXpert assay than the Abbott ( p = 0.002). Analysis of samples with VL ≥ 40 copies/mL on either assay ( n = 25) found the mean difference between the two assays to be 0.31 log10 copies/mL (95% limits of agreement: −0.63, 1.25). Whilst the measurements on the two assays are relatively highly correlated, there is a clear bias, with the Cepheid GeneXpert tending to give higher VL values.

For two classical Cepheids, CEa Cas and CEb Cas, members of the open cluster NGC 7790, we have constructed $$O-C$$ diagrams spanning a time interval of 125 years. The $$O-C$$ diagrams have the shape of parabolas, which has allowed us for the first time to determine the quadratic light elements and to calculate the rates of evolutionary changes in their periods: $$dP/dt={-}0.038({\pm}{0.017})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ for CEa Cas and $$dP/dt={+}0.099({\pm}{0.010})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ for CEb Cas, in agreement with the theoretical calculations for the second and third crossings of the instability strip, respectively. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen has confirmed that the changes in the periods are real.

A research on stellar magnetism in Crimea was initiated by pioneer works of A.B. Severny, V.E. Stepanov, and D.N. Rachkovsky. Today, the study of stellar magnetic fields is a key field of research at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO). The 2.6 m Shajn telescope equipped with the echelle spectrograph ESPL, CCD, and Stokesmeter (a circular polarization analyzer) allows us to study the magnetic field of bright stars up to 5m–6m. The Single Line (SL) technique is developed for measuring magnetic fields at CrAO. This technique is based on the calculation of the Zeeman effect in individual spectral lines. A key advantage of the SL technique is its ability to detect local magnetic fields on the surface of stars. Many results in the field of direct measurements of stellar magnetic fields were obtained at CrAO for the first time. In particular, the magnetic field on supergiants (ǫ Gem), as well as on a number of subgiants, giants, and bright giants was first detected. This, and investigations of other authors, confirmed the hypothesis that a magnetic field is generated at all the stages of evolution of late-type stars, including the stage of star formation. The emergence of large magnetic flux tubes at the surface of stars of V-IV-III luminosity classes (61 Cyg A, β Gem, β Aql) was first registered. In subgiants, the magnetic field behavior with the activity cycle was first established for β Aql. Using the long-term Crimean spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observations of α Lyr, the 22-year variability cycle of the star, supposedly associated with meridional flows, is confirmed. Magnetic field variability with the pulsation period was first detected for different types of pulsating variables: the classical Cepheid β Aql, the low-amplitude β Cep-type variable γ Peg, and others. In this review we cover more than a half-century history of the formation of the Crimean scientific school for high-precision direct measurements of stellar magnetic fields.

Ultra Long Period Cepheids (ULPs) are pulsating variable stars with a period longer than 80d and have been hypothesized to be the extension of the Classical Cepheids (CCs) at higher masses and luminosities. If confirmed as standard candles, their intrinsic luminosities, 1 to 3 mag brighter than typical CCs, would allow to reach the Hubble flow and, in turn, to determine the Hubble constant, H_0, in one step, avoiding the uncertainties associated with the calibration of primary and secondary indicators. To investigate the accuracy of ULPs as cosmological standard candles, we first collect all the ULPs known in the literature. The resulting sample includes 63 objects with a very large metallicity spread with 12 + log([O/H]) ranging from 7.2 to 9.2 dex. The analysis of their properties in the VI period-Wesenheit plane and in the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) supports the hypothesis that the ULPs are the extension of CCs at longer periods, higher masses and luminosities, even if, additional accurate and homogeneous data and a devoted theoretical scenario are needed to get firm conclusions. Finally, the three M31 ULPs, 8-0326, 8-1498 and H42, are investigated in more detail. For 8-1498 and H42, we cannot confirm their nature as ULPs, due to the inconsistency between their position in the CMD and the measured periods. For 8-0326, the light curve model fitting technique applied to the available time-series data allows us to constrain its intrinsic stellar parameters, distance and reddening., MNRAS - Accepted 2020 November 19. Received 2020 November 19; in original form 2020 July 15 - 9 pages and 8 figures

The discrepancy between estimates of the Hubble Constant ($H_0$) measured from local ($z \lesssim 0.1$) scales and from scales of the sound horizon is a crucial problem in modern cosmology. Peculiar velocities ($v_{pec}$) of standard candle distance indicators can systematically affect local $H_0$ measurements. We here use 2MRS galaxies to measure the local galaxy density field, finding a notable $z$ < 0.05 under-density in the SGC-6dFGS region of 27 $\pm$ 2 %. However, no strong evidence for a 'Local Void' pertaining to the full 2MRS sky coverage is found. Galaxy densities are used to measure a density parameter, $\Delta \phi_{+-}$, which we introduce as a proxy for $v_{pec}$ which quantifies density gradients along a SN line-of-sight. $\Delta \phi_{+-}$ is found to correlate with local $H_0$ estimates from 88 Pantheon SNeIa (0.02 < $z$ < 0.05). Density structures on scales of $\sim$ 50 Mpc are found to correlate strongest with $H_0$ estimates in both the observational data and in mock data from the MDPL2-Galacticus simulation. Using trends of $H_0$ with $\Delta \phi_{+-}$, we can correct for the effects of density structure on local $H_0$ estimates, even in the presence of biased $v_{pec}$. However, the difference in the inferred $H_0$ estimate with and without the peculiar velocity correction is limited to < 0.1 %. We conclude that accounting for environmentally-induced peculiar velocities of SNIa host galaxies does not resolve the tension between local and CMB-derived $H_0$ estimates., Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Thirty three spectra of the Polaris system obtained in August–December 2019 and February–April 2020 at the 0.81m telescope of the Three College Observatory (TCO, North Carolina, USA) were used to determine the radial velocities (RV) and effective temperature of the Cepheid Polaris Aa. These new data have been added to the entire Polaris system RV data collection (over 2,500 measurements) to compute a new orbit of the Polaris Aa companion. Furthermore we have used our eight observational datasets taken in 2015–2020 and eight datasets taken in 2011–2018 by Anderson (2019) to check for possible influence of the orbital motion of Polaris Ab on the Polaris Aa pulsational activity. It was found that the mean pulsational period in 2015–2020 was quite stable (3.976±0.012 days), while the pulsational amplitude showed evident changes: a growth before HJD 2457350 with a following decrease. This fact could be due to the Polaris Ab passing through the periastron.

IntroductionTo evaluate the automated cartridge-based PCR approach ARIES SARS-CoV-2 Assay targeting the ORF-sequence and the N-gene of SARS-CoV-2.MethodsIn line with the suggestions by Rabenau and colleagues, the automated ARIES SARS-CoV-2 Assay was challenged with strongly positive samples, weakly positive samples and negative samples. Further, intra-assay and inter-assay precision as well as the limit-of-detection (lod) were defined with quantified target RNA and DNA. The Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-Cov-2 Assay was used as gold standard.ResultsConcordance between the ARIES assay and the Cepheid assay was 100% for strongly positive samples and for negative samples, respectively. For weakly positive samples as confirmed applying the Cepheid assay, a relevant minority of 4 out of 15 samples (26.7%) went undetected by the ARIES assay. Intra- and inter-assay precision were satisfactory, while the lod was in the 103 DNA copies/reaction-range, in the 103 virus copies/reaction-range, or in the 103–104 free RNA copies/reaction-range in our hands.ConclusionsThe automated ARIES assay shows comparable test characteristics as the Cepheid assay focusing on strongly positive and negative samples but a slightly reduced sensitivity with weakly positive samples. Decisions on diagnostic use should include considerations on the lod.

The reduction of all the available photometry for the Cepheid CC Lyr has allowed its $$O-C$$ diagram spanning a time interval of 124 years to be constructed. The data obtained provide evidence for the existence of large random fluctuations in the period ( $$\varepsilon/P\approx 0.046$$ ). A formal fitting of the $$O-C$$ residuals has made it possible to estimate the rate of secular increase in the period, $$dP/dt=229.3({\pm}{14.8})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ . The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen (1993) has confirmed that the increase in the period is real.

The research on stellar magnetism in the Crimea was initiated by pioneer works of A.B. Severny, V.E. Stepanov, and D.N. Rachkovsky. Today, the study of stellar magnetic fields is a key field of research at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO). The 2.6 m Shajn telescope equipped with the echelle spectrograph ESPL, CCD, and Stokesmeter (a circular polarization analyzer) allows us to study the magnetic field of bright stars up to 5m–6m. The Single Line (SL) technique is developed for measuring magnetic fields at СrAO. This technique is based on the calculation of Zeeman effect in individual spectral lines. A key advantage of the SL technique is its ability to detect local magnetic fields on the surface of stars. Many results in the field of direct measurements of stellar magnetic fields were obtained at CrAO for the first time. In particular, the magnetic field on supergiants (e Gem), as well as a number of subgiants, giants, and bright giants was first detected. This, and investigations of other authors, confirmed the hypothesis that a magnetic field is generated at all stages of the evolution of late-type stars, including the stage of star formation. The emergence of large magnetic flux tubes at the surface of stars of V-IV-III luminosity classes (61 Cyg A, β Gem, β Aql) was first registered. For β Aql, the behavior of a magnetic field with an activity cycle in subgiants was first established. Using long-term Crimean spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observations of α Lyr, the 22-year variability cycle of the star, supposedly associated with meridional flows, is confirmed. Magnetic field variability with the pulsation period was first detected for different types of pulsating variables: the classical Cepheid β Aql, the low-amplitude β Cep-type variable γ Peg, and others. In this review we cover more than a half-century history of the formation of the Crimean scientific school for high-precision direct measurements of stellar magnetic fields.

The reduction of all the available photometry for the Cepheid CE Pup has allowed its $$O-C$$ diagram spanning a time interval of 128 years to be constructed. This has made it possible for the first time to calculate the rate of evolutionary increase in the period, $$dP/dt=+155.3(\pm{13.1})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ , in agreement the results of model calculations for the third crossing of the instability strip. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen confirmed that the evolutionary change in the period is real.

For the first time, BVIc observations of the Cepheid V811 Oph were obtained by using a new 60‑cm telescope at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory, Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University (SAI MSU). An $$O{-}C$$ diagram covering a time span of 124 years was plotted using photometry from old photographic and modern sky surveys. The diagram has a parabola shape, which made it possible to determine for the first time the quadratic elements of the brightness variations. Furthermore, it made it possible to calculate the rate of an evolutionary decrease in the period of V811 Oph $$dP{\text{/}}dt = - 0.00375( \pm 0.00177)$$ s/year, which is consistent with the theoretical calculation results for the second intersection of the instability strip if this Cepheid is a classical one. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen confirmed the actual decrease in the period.

The reduction of all the available photometry for the Cepheid ET Vul has allowed its $$O-C$$ diagram spanning a time interval of 130 years to be constructed. This has made it possible to calculate for the first time the rate of evolutionary decrease in the period, $$dP/dt=-426.5(\pm{29.7})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ , in agreement with the results of model calculations for the second crossing of the instability strip. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen has confirmed that the evolutionary change in the period is real.

$$BVI_{c}g^{\prime}r^{\prime}i^{\prime}$$ observations of the classical Cepheid V1467 Cyg have been obtained with the 60-cm telescope at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory of the SAI MSU. Invoking all of the available photometry has allowed an $$O-C$$ diagram spanning a time interval of 107 years to be constructed. This has made it possible to calculate for the first time the rate of evolutionary decrease in the period of V1467 Cyg, $$dP/dt={-}431.5({\pm}{8.2})$$ s yr $${}^{-1}$$ , in agreement with the results of model calculations for the second crossing of the instability strip. The pulsation stability test proposed by Lombard and Koen has confirmed that the evolutionary changes in the period are real.

Apresenta-se uma proposta didática para o ensino de Astronomia por meio da observação de estrelas variáveis, cujo brilho se altera com o passar do tempo. Aborda-se, em particular, o monitoramento de cefeidas clássicas, as quais exibem modificações regulares na intensidade da luz emitida em razão de efetuarem pulsações periódicas, com seu raio aumentando e diminuindo de maneira cíclica. Discute-se a relação existente entre o período de oscilação e a luminosidade de uma cefeida clássica, mostrando como esta propriedade faculta a determinação do quão afastada a estrela se encontra. Salienta-se a importância histórica e atual da observação de cefeidas clássicas para se estimar distâncias no Universo, com implicações para a formulação de modelos cosmológicos. Descreve-se uma sequência didática relacionada ao tema, estruturada em três momentos pedagógicos, englobando uma problematização inicial, a organização do conhecimento e a sistematização do conhecimento. Exemplifica-se esta proposta considerando-se o caso de ℓ Carinae, cefeida clássica suficientemente brilhante para ser investigada a olho nu. Busca-se evidenciar a possível contribuição de atividades observacionais para proporcionar contato com conceitos e técnicas da Astronomia e melhor compreensão de como a Ciência se desenvolve.

In the present paper, we used the O-C diagrams for five classical Cepheid stars in our galactic plane to drive the rate of its period changes. The rate of period changes for individual Cepheid vari...

Context. Classical Cepheids are primary distance indicators and a crucial stepping stone in determining the present-day value of the Hubble constant H0 to the precision and accuracy required to constrain apparent deviations from the ΛCDM Concordance Cosmological Model. Aims. We measured the iron and oxygen abundances of a statistically significant sample of 89 Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), one of the anchors of the local distance scale, quadrupling the prior sample and including 68 of the 70 Cepheids used to constrain H0 by the SH0ES program. The goal is to constrain the extent to which the luminosity of Cepheids is influenced by their chemical composition, which is an important contributor to the uncertainty on the determination of the Hubble constant itself and a critical factor in the internal consistency of the distance ladder. Methods. We derived stellar parameters and chemical abundances from a self-consistent spectroscopic analysis based on equivalent width of absorption lines. Results. The iron distribution of Cepheids in the LMC can be very accurately described by a single Gaussian with a mean [Fe/H] = −0.409 ± 0.003 dex and σ = 0.076 ± 0.003 dex. We estimate a systematic uncertainty on the absolute mean values of 0.1 dex. The width of the distribution is fully compatible with the measurement error and supports the low dispersion of 0.069 mag seen in the near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope LMC period–luminosity relation. The uniformity of the abundance has the important consequence that the LMC Cepheids alone cannot provide any meaningful constraint on the dependence of the Cepheid period–luminosity relation on chemical composition at any wavelength. This revises a prior claim based on a small sample of 22 LMC Cepheids that there was little dependence (or uncertainty) between composition and near-infrared luminosity, a conclusion which would produce an apparent conflict between anchors of the distance ladder with different mean abundance. The chemical homogeneity of the LMC Cepheid population makes it an ideal environment in which to calibrate the metallicity dependence between the more metal-poor Small Magellanic Cloud and metal-rich Milky Way and NGC 4258.

As primary anchors of the distance scale, Cepheid stars play a crucial role in our understanding of the distance scale of the Universe because of their period-luminosity relation. Determining precise and consistent parameters (radius, temperature, color excess, and projection factor) of Cepheid pulsating stars is therefore very important. With the high-precision parallaxes delivered by the early third Gaia data release, we aim to derive various parameters of Cepheid stars in order to calibrate the period-luminosity and period-radius relations and to investigate the relation of period to p-factor. We applied an implementation of the parallax-of-pulsation method through the algorithm called Spectro-Photo-Interferometry of Pulsating Stars, which combines all types of available data for a variable star in a global modeling of its pulsation. We present the SPIPS modeling of a sample of 63 Galactic Cepheids. Adopting Gaia EDR3 parallaxes as an input associated with the best available dataset, we derive consistent values of parameters for these stars such as the radius, multiband apparent magnitudes, effective temperatures, color excesses, period changes, Fourier parameters, and the projection factor. We then derive new calibrations of the period-luminosity and period-radius relations. After investigating the dependences of the p-factor on the parameters of the stars, we find a high dispersion of its values and no evidence of its correlation with the period or with any other parameters. Statistically, the p-factor has an average value of p=1.26$\pm$0.07, but with an unsatisfactory agreement. In absence of any clear correlation between the p-factor and other quantities, the best agreement is obtained under the assumption that the p-factor can take any value in a band with a width of 0.15. This result highlights the need for a further examination of the physics behind the p-factor., 29 pages, 23 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysiscs journal (30/08/2021)

This is a study of the photometric data of the RR Lyrae star, DM And, in the B, V, sdssi, and sdss-z filters. The light curve shapes and estimated period 0.631± 0.011d in the B-filter, 0.631± 0.012d in the V-filter, 0.631± 0.011d in the sdss-i filter, 0.631± 0.011d in the sdss-z filter, and an average period of 0.6301 0.011d represent that of a typical RRab type RR Lyrae star. DM And’s magnitude is 12.175± 0.010 in B, 11.70± 0.010 in V, 11.60± 0.03 in sdss-i and 11.475± 0.046 in sdss-z, with an average magnitude of 11.738± 0.024. DM And has a measured distance averaged over all filters of 1647± 42 pc, 1558± 46 pc in V, 1728± 77 pc in sdss-i, and 1653± 95 pc in sdss-z. These results are comparable to GAIA’s measured distance of 1572± 157 pc.

Recent photometric observations of first-overtone classical Cepheids and RR Lyrae stars have led to the discovery of additional frequencies showing a characteristic period ratio of 0.60-0.65 with the main pulsation mode. In a promising model proposed by Dziembowski (2016), these signals are suggested to be due to the excitation of non-radial modes with degrees 7, 8 and 9 (Cepheids) or 8 and 9 (RR Lyrae). Such modes usually have low amplitudes in photometric data. Spectroscopic time series offer an unexplored and promising way forward. We simulated time series of synthetic line profiles for a representative first-overtone classical Cepheid model and added a low-amplitude non-radial mode. We studied sets of spectra with dense sampling and without noise, so-called 'perfect' cases, as well as more realistic samplings and signal-to-noise levels. Besides the first-overtone mode and the non-radial mode, also the harmonics of both modes and combination signals were often detected, but a sufficiently high sampling and signal-to-noise ratio prove essential. The amplitudes of the non-radial mode and its harmonic depend on the azimuthal order $m$. The inclination is also an important factor determining the detectability of the non-radial mode and/or its harmonic. We compared the results obtained for the predicted high degrees with those for lower-degree modes. Finally, we studied the sampling requirements for detecting the non-radial mode. Our findings can be used to plan a spectroscopic observing campaign tailored to uncover the nature of these mysterious modes., Published in MNRAS, 12 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables

We derive the spatially-resolved star formation history (SFH) for a $96$ deg$^2$ area across the main body of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), using the near-infrared photometry from the VISTA survey of the Magellanic Clouds (VMC). The data and analyses are characterised by a great degree of homogeneity and a low sensitivity to the interstellar extinction. 756 subregions of size $0.125$ deg$^2$ -- corresponding to projected sizes of about $296\times322\,\mathrm{pc}^{2}$ in the LMC -- are analysed. The resulting SFH maps, with typical resolution of $0.2$--$0.3$ dex in logarithm of age, reveal main features in the LMC disc at different ages: the patchy star formation at recent ages, the concentration of star formation on three spiral arms and on the Bar up to ages of $\sim\!1.6$ Gyr, and the wider and smoother distribution of older populations. The period of most intense star formation occurred roughly between 4 and 0.5 Gyr ago, at rates of $\sim\!0.3\,\mathrm{M}_{\odot}\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$. We compare young and old star formation rates with the observed numbers of RR Lyrae and Cepheids. We also derive a mean extinction and mean distance for every subregion, and the plane that best describes the spatial distribution of the mean distances. Our results cover an area about 50 per cent larger than the classical SFH maps derived from optical data by Harris & Zaritsky (2009). Main differences with respect to those maps are lower star formation rates at young ages, and a main peak of star formation being identified at ages slightly younger than $1$ Gyr., Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Images recorded with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini South are combined with archival images from other facilities to search for variable stars in the southern portion of the nearby disk galaxy NGC 247. Fifteen new periodic and non-periodic variables are identified. These include three Cepheids with periods < 25 days, four semi-regular variables, one of which shows light variations similar to those of R CrB stars, five variables with intrinsic visible/red brightnesses and colors that are similar to those of luminous blue variables (LBVs), and three fainter blue variables, one of which may be a non-eclipsing close binary system. The S Doradus instability strip defines the upper envelope of a distinct sequence of objects on the (i', g'-i') color-magnitude diagram (CMD) of NGC 247. The frequency of variability with an amplitude > 0.1 magnitude in the part of the CMD that contains LBVs over the seven month period when the GMOS images were recorded is ~ 0.2. The light curve of the B[e] supergiant J004702.18--204739.9, which is among the brightest stars in NGC 247, is also examined. Low amplitude variations on day-to-day timescales are found, coupled with a systematic trend in mean brightness over a six month time interval., Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

We present Period-Luminosity Relations (PLRs) for 55 Cepheids in M31 with periods ranging from 4 to 78 days observed with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) using the same three-band photometric system recently used to calibrate their luminosities. Images were taken with the Wide Field Camera 3 in two optical filters (F555W and F814W) and one near-infrared filter (F160W) using the Drift And SHift (DASH) mode of operation to significantly reduce overheads and observe widely-separated Cepheids in a single orbit. We include additional F160W epochs for each Cepheid from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) and use light curves from the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System of the Andromeda galaxy (PAndromeda) project to determine mean magnitudes. Combined with a 1.28$\%$ absolute calibration of Cepheid PLRs in the Large Magellanic Cloud from Riess et al. (2019a) in the same three filters, we find a distance modulus to M31 of $\mu_0$ = 24.407 $\pm$ 0.032, corresponding to 761 $\pm$ 11 kpc and 1.49$\%$ uncertainty including all error sources, the most precise determination of its distance to date. We compare our results to past measurements using Cepheids and the Tip of the Red Giant Branch (TRGB). This study also provides the groundwork for turning M31 into a precision anchor galaxy in the cosmic distance ladder to measure the Hubble constant together with efforts to measure a fully geometric distance to M31., Comment: Accepted by ApJ, 19 pages, 5 figures, 6 tables

Fundamental astrophysical parameters have been derived for Berkeley 55 (Be 55) open cluster based on the UBVI charge-coupled device (CCD) photometric data observed using a AZT-22 1.5 m telescope at Maidanak Astronomical Observatory (MAO) in Uzbekistan. The mean reddening is obtained as $$E(B-V)=1.77\pm 0.10\,\mathrm {mag}$$ from early-type members. The zero-age main sequence fitting in the $$Q_{V\lambda }$$ – $$Q'$$ diagrams indicates the distance modulus, $$(V_{0}-M_{V})=12.4\pm 0.20\,\mathrm {mag}\,(d=3.02\pm 0.28\,\mathrm {kpc}$$ ). This photometric distance is consistent with the distances of Gaia EDR3 ( $$d = 3.09 \pm 0.16\,\mathrm {kpc}$$ ) and period–luminosity relation ( $$d =$$ 2.78 ± 0.32 kpc) of its Cepheid S5 within the uncertainties. This distance also locates the cluster near the Perseus spiral arm. The Geneva isochrone fittings to the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram and observational colour–magnitude diagrams derive turn-off age, 85 ± 13 Myr, by taking care of five red supergiants/bright giants. The possible inconsistencies in the locations of the bright giants with the rotating/non-rotating isochrones may be due to both the age spread of stars in young open clusters and the diversity in rotational velocities.

The second data release of \it Gaia \rm revealed a parallax zero point offset of $-0.029$~mas based on quasars. The value depended on the position on the sky, and also likely on magnitude and colour. The offset and its dependence on other parameters inhibited an improvement in the local distance scale using e.g. the Cepheid and RR Lyrae period-luminosity relations. Analysis of the recent \it Gaia \rm Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) reveals a mean parallax zero point offset of $-0.021$~mas based on quasars. The \it Gaia \rm team addresses the parallax zero point offset in detail and proposes a recipe to correct for it, based on ecliptic latitude, $G$-band magnitude, and colour information. This paper is a completely independent investigation into this issue focussing on the spatial dependence of the correction based on quasars and the magnitude dependence based on wide binaries. The spatial and magnitude corrections are connected to each other in the overlap region between $17 < G < 19$. The spatial correction is presented at several spatial resolutions based on the HEALPix formalism. The colour dependence of the parallax offset is unclear and in any case secondary to the spatial and magnitude dependence. The spatial and magnitude corrections are applied to two samples of brighter sources, namely a sample of $\sim$100 stars with independent trigonometric parallax measurements from \it HST \rm data, and a sample of 75 classical cepheids using photometric parallaxes. The mean offset between the observed GEDR3 parallax and the independent trigonometric parallax (excluding outliers) is about $-39$~\muas, and after applying the correction it is consistent with being zero. For the classical cepheid sample it is suggested that the photometric parallaxes may be underestimated by about 5\%., A&A accepted. Auxiliary files are available at http://homepage.oma.be/marting/articlesgroen.html (and will be available at the CDS)

We analyse photometry of $\sim$2000 Galactic Cepheids available in the OGLE Collection of Variable Stars. We analyse both Galactic disk and Galactic bulge fields; stars classified both as single- and multi-periodic. Our goal was to search for additional low-amplitude variability. We extend the sample of multi-mode radial pulsators by identifying ten new candidates for double-mode and six new candidates for triple-mode pulsation. In the first overtone OGLE sample, we found twelve Cepheids with additional periodicity having period ratio $P_{\rm x}/P_{\rm 1O}\in (0.60,\, 0.65)$. These periodicities do not correspond to any other radial mode. While such variables are abundant in the Magellanic Clouds, only one Cepheid of this class was known in the Galaxy before our analysis. Comparing our sample with the Magellanic Cloud Cepheids we note a systematic shift towards longer pulsation periods for more metal rich Galactic stars. Moreover in eleven stars we find one more type of additional variability, with characteristic frequencies close to half of that reported in the group with (0.60,\, 0.65) period ratios. Two out of the above inventory show simultaneous presence of both signals. Most likely, origin of these signals is connected to excitation of non-radial pulsation modes. We report three Cepheids with low-amplitude periodic modulation of pulsation: two stars are single-mode fundamental and first overtone Cepheids and one is a double-mode Cepheid pulsating simultaneously in fundamental and in first overtone modes. Only the former mode is modulated. It is a first detection of periodic modulation of pulsation in this type of double-mode Cepheids., 16 pages, 14 figures, Accepted in MNRAS

Classical double-mode pulsators (RR Lyrae stars and delta Cepheids) are important for their simultaneous pulsation in low-order radial modes. This enables us to put stringent constraints on their physical parameters. We use 30 bright galactic double-mode RR~Lyrae (RRd) stars to estimate their luminosities and compare them with those derived from the parallaxes of the recent data release (EDR3) of the Gaia survey. We employ pulsation and evolutionary models, together with observationally determined effective temperatures to derive the basic stellar parameters. Excluding 6 outlying stars (e.g., with blending issues) the RRd and Gaia luminosities correlate well. With the adopted temperature zero point from one of the works based on the infrared flux method, we find it necessary to increase the Gaia parallaxes by 0.02 mas to bring the RRd and Gaia luminosities into agreement. This value is consonant with those derived from studies on binary stars in the context of Gaia. We examine also the resulting period-luminosity-metallicity (PLZ) relation in the 2MASS K band as follows from the RRd parameters. This leads to the verification of two independently derived other PLZs. No significant zero point differences are found. Furthermore, the predicted K absolute magnitudes agree within sigma=0.005-0.01mag., After the first positive referee report. Submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics. Size: 0.51 Mb

The Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) 2011by, hosted in NGC 3972, and 2011fe, hosted in M101, are optical "twins," having almost identical optical light-curve shapes, colours, and near-maximum-brightness spectra. However, SN 2011fe had significantly more ultraviolet (UV; 1600 < lambda < 2500 A) flux than SN 2011by before and at peak luminosity. Theory suggests that SNe Ia with higher progenitor metallicity should (1) have additional UV opacity near peak and thus lower UV flux; (2) have an essentially unchanged optical spectral-energy distribution; (3) have a similar optical light-curve shape; and (4) because of the excess neutrons, produce more stable Fe-group elements at the expense of radioactive 56Ni and thus have a lower peak luminosity. Foley & Kirshner (2013) suggested that the difference in UV flux between SNe 2011by and 2011fe was the result of their progenitors having significantly different metallicities. The SNe also had a large, but insignificant, difference between their peak absolute magnitudes (Delta M_V, peak = 0.60 +/- 0.36 mag), with SN 2011fe being more luminous. We present a new Cepheid-based distance to NGC 3972, significantly improving the precision of the distance measurement for SN 2011by. With these new data, we determine that the SNe have significantly different peak luminosities (Delta M_V, peak = 0.335 +/- 0.069 mag), corresponding to SN 2011fe having produced 38% more 56Ni than SN 2011by, and providing additional evidence for progenitor metallicity differences for these SNe. We discuss how progenitor metallicity differences can contribute to the intrinsic scatter for light-curve-shape-corrected SN luminosities, the use of "twin" SNe for measuring distances, and implications for using SNe Ia for constraining cosmological parameters., 10 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MNRAS

We present the results of a spectro- scopic and photometric investigation of 20 objects from the open cluster Collinder 394, which contains the Cepheid BB Sgr. Besides the Cepheid, we studied tree K-giants, four B-giants, and twelve B-A-F main sequence stars. Radial velocities (RV), vsini, T eff , logg, were determined using spectroscopic model fitting and atmosphere models. We have derived the color-excesses, reddenings, and intrinsic colors for these stars using their T eff and logg from compar- ison to the atmosphere models, especially for hot stars. Proper motions, RV and GAIA DR2 2018 parallax/distance values for these stars allowed us to determine their membership in the cluster and absolute magnitudes. We found that seven stars do not belong to the cluster. The parallaxes and reddenings of 13 confidently cluster members led to the distances in a range of 630–800 pc, although the majority of them (8 objects) are located at a mean distance of 657.7±66.7 pc, and 5 objects with the Cepheid could probably belong to the cluster’s corona. All the members have [Fe/H] near 0.1 dex. The main sequence B-star No. 76 (HD 174307) has a low rotational velocity projection, and this fact allows us to determine its chemical composition to compare with that of the Cepheid BB Sgr. Its CNO and Na abundances are close to the solar one, while the Cepheid show a deficit of carbon, an overabundance of nitrogen, nearly solar oxygen, and an overabundance of sodium. Three foreground K-giants have different C abundances (from a deficit to the solar), and Na (from the solar to an overabundance) as well as a solar-like O content. The foreground F7-8 V star No. 75 (CPD −20 ◦ 7218) was revealed to be a Li-rich star, while the A7 V star No. 69 (BD −20 ◦ 5290) has an anomalous deficit of CNO with overabundances of some α, r- and s-process elements.

We investigate evolutional status of cepheid V1033 Cyg in this work, its period of light variation consists 4 d .94 and the star is a real candidate on first crossing of instability stripe (IS) (as well as α of UMi). At first crossing of instability stripe, that lasts all close 1000 years, cepheids demonstrate the rapid increase of period, sometimes is a presence of strong line of lithium 6707 ˚ A. Such objects knows only four in our Galaxy, one of them - V1033 Cyg. During included in a instability stripe amplitude of pulsations headily grows from a zero to some permanent size, and on leaving from (IS) - again falls to a zero. For verifica- tion this phenomenon in the Astronomical observatory of Odesa National University (Ukraine) on the 48-cm telescope AZT-3, equipped by CCD photometer with the optical sensor Sony ICX429ALL, a 1864 measuring of light V1033 Cyg were done in the filter of V and 713 in the filter R, that are partly presented in the Table. 1 and Fig. 2, and fully accessible to address http://cdsarc.ustrasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat. Considerable change of amplitude it is not got by us. The position of cepheid is certain by us in the (IS) - it appeared that star is near her center. In this phase evolutional to development and it must not be observed considerable change of amplitude (color index). The light curves, effective temperature and luminosity of V1033 Cyg are consistent with fundamental mode pulsation for a classical Cepheid on the center of the instability strip.

We present the results of an analysis of 20 spectra of α UMi (Polaris) obtained in September 2018 – January 2019 using 0.81m telescope of the Three College Observatory (TCO), North Carolina, USA. Frequency analysis displays an increase of the pulsational period up to 3.68 min in comparison to the August - December 2017 - January - May 2018 observational sets, and it come to 3.973216 days. The systemic velocity (γ – velocity) is equal to −11.75 kms −1 . The radial velocity amplitude rose to 3.50 kms −1 and actually returned to the previous values of 3.43, 3.31, and 3.81 kms −1 , respectively, found from the August - December 2016, January - March 2017 and August - December 2017 sets. The radial velocity’s amplitude growth tendency still remains. The average T eff = 6051±22 K shows a growth toward the value found from the 2005 – 2007 observational sets and probably has a tendency toward the T eff growth. The joint TCO and Hermes radial velocity measurements during the last four years show the changes of Polaris’ pulsational amplitude.

This is the second of a series related to the study of geometry of the Magellanic Clouds based on multiwavelength photometry of classical Cepheids. In this paper we determine the geometrical and viewing angle parameters of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) using the Leavitt law for classical Cepheids with/without a break in the law at a certain period as reported in the literature. The study utilizes photometric data for more than 3400 common classical Cepheids (Fundamental (FU) and First overtone (FO)) in optical (V, I), near-infrared (Y, J, Ks) and mid-infrared ([3.6] and [4.5] μm) photometric bands. We obtain statistical reddening and distance modulus free from the effect of reddening to each of the individual Cepheids with respect to the mean distance modulus and reddening of the SMC. The reddening maps of the SMC obtained from the analyses with/without breaks in the Leavitt law show good agreement with each other as well as with other maps available in the literature. The Cartesian coordinates of individual stars with respect to the galaxy plane are obtained using the information of equatorial coordinates (α, δ) as well as extinction-free distance measurements. Modelling the observed 3D distribution of the Cepheids as a triaxial ellipsoid, we obtain the geometrical and viewing angle parameters of the SMC. The weighted average yields the following values of parameters for the SMC: the geometrical axes ratios of 1.000 ± 0.001: 1.544 ± 0.002: 9.742 ± 0.030 and the viewing angle parameters having inclination angle i = 3${^{\circ}_{.}}$465 ± 0${^{\circ}_{.}}$030 with respect to the longest axis from the line of sight and position angle of line of nodes (major axis) θlon = 63${^{\circ}_{.}}$086 ± 0${^{\circ}_{.}}$117.

We performed a photometric and spectroscopic analysis of two RV Tauri stars GK Car and GZ Nor. Both objects are surrounded by hot circumstellar dust. Their pulsation periods, derived from ASAS photometric time series, have been used to derive their luminosities and distances via the PLC relation. In addition, for both objects, GAIA distances are available. The Gaia distances and luminosities are consistent with the values obtained from the PLC relationship. GK Car is at distance of 4.5$\pm{1.3}$ kpc and has a luminosity of 1520$\pm{840}$ L$_{\odot}$, while GZ Nor is at distance of 8.4$\pm{2.3}$ kpc and has a luminosity of 1240 $\pm{690}$ L$_{\odot}$. Our abundance analysis reveals that both stars show depletion of refractory elements with [Fe/H]=$-$1.3 and [Zn/Ti]=$+$1.2 for GK Car and [Fe/H]=$-$2.0 and [Zn/Ti]=$+$0.8 for GZ Nor. In the WISE colour-colour diagram, GK Car is located in the RV Tauri box as originally defined by \cite{evans85} and updated by \cite{gezer15}, while GZ Nor is not. Despite this, we argue that both objects are surrounded by a gravitationally bound disc. As depletion is observed in binaries, we postulate that both stars are binaries as well. RV Tauri stars are generally acknowledged to be post$-$AGB stars. Recent studies show that they might be either indeed post$-$AGB or post$-$RGB objects depending on their luminosity. For both objects, the derived luminosities are relatively low for post-AGB objects, however, the uncertainties are quite large. We conclude that they could be either post-RGB or post-AGB objects., Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 9 pages, 8 figures, 8 tables

Classical Cepheids and RR Lyrae-type variable stars are widely-used tracers of young (< 300 Myr) and old (> 10 Gyr) stellar populations, respectively. These stars also serve as distance indicators allowing for Galactic structure studies. Robust detection of pulsating variables requires precise and relatively frequent observations over several years. Recently, the OGLE survey has discovered nearly 1,300 new genuine classical Cepheids and 15,000 RR Lyrae stars along the southern Galactic plane. Here, we present the picture of the Milky Way’s thin disk drawn with the Cepheids and the view of the Galactic old population that emerges from the set of known RR Lyrae stars.

We have collected 2330 Cepheids to establish an intuitive 3D map of the Milky Way’s disk. As regards the warp amplitude, the Cepheid disk agrees well with the gas disk for radii up to 15 kpc. However, the mean line of nodes (LON) of the Cepheid disk deviates from the Galactic Center–Sun direction by 17.5±1.0°. This is a new and different result compared with previous results. The LON is not stable at any given radius, but it twists. The twisted pattern suggests that the formation of the Milky Way’s warp is dominated by the massive inner disk. The kinematic warp defined by the Cepheids is also in concordance with the spatial warp. In the 2020 era, the anticipated increasing number of new Cepheids will provide a key opportunity to view our Milky Way’s disk as a whole, and we expect that our knowledge of the disk’s main structural features will be much improved.

We present an improved measurement of the Hubble constant (H_0) using the 'inverse distance ladder' method, which adds the information from 207 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) at redshift 0.018 < z < 0.85 to existing distance measurements of 122 low redshift (z < 0.07) SNe Ia (Low-z) and measurements of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs). Whereas traditional measurements of H_0 with SNe Ia use a distance ladder of parallax and Cepheid variable stars, the inverse distance ladder relies on absolute distance measurements from the BAOs to calibrate the intrinsic magnitude of the SNe Ia. We find H_0 = 67.8 +/- 1.3 km s-1 Mpc-1 (statistical and systematic uncertainties, 68% confidence). Our measurement makes minimal assumptions about the underlying cosmological model, and our analysis was blinded to reduce confirmation bias. We examine possible systematic uncertainties and all are below the statistical uncertainties. Our H_0 value is consistent with estimates derived from the Cosmic Microwave Background assuming a LCDM universe (Planck Collaboration et al. 2018)., 15 pages, 5 figures, updated to match accepted version

For the classical Cepheid V1033 Cyg we have constructed an O—C diagram spanning a time interval of 117 years. The O—C diagram has the shape of a parabola, which has made it possible to determine for the first time the quadratic light elements and to calculate the rate of evolutionary increase in the period dP/dt = 18.19 (±0.08) syr−1, in agreement with the results of theoretical calculations for the first crossing of the instability strip. Thus, V1033 Cyg is the second actually observed Cepheid (after α UMi) that crosses the instability strip for the first time.

We briefly describe the large observational project MAGIC aimed at mass spectroscopic studies of stars of different subsystems of our Galaxy. The project was carried out on the Southern African Large Telescope (hereafter referred to as SALT) with efficient use of its capabilities, site’s climate, and spectroscopic instruments. We discuss in detail the issues of high-resolution spectroscopy when studying the chemical composition of Galactic Cepheids. Observations of these objects with HRS echelle spectrograph of SALT telescope started in 2016 and currently the number of such observations exceeds one hundred. Spectra were acquired in the medium-resolution mode (R ~36 500–39 000)with a high signalto-noise ratio (S/N ~50–220). All obtained echelle images acquired were reduced with a package that we developed based on standard MIDAS system. We describe standard reduction steps using the Cepheid RSNor as a test object. Based on the data of spectroscopic observations we determined the atmospheric parameters and the abundances of 31 chemical elements (36 neutral atoms and ions) whose absorption lines are observed in the spectrum of RSNor. We performed all computations using two methods and showed that echelle spectra acquired in the medium-resolution mode of HRS can be used to study the chemical composition of Cepheids with good accuracy and that the results agree with the results of other studies within the quoted errors.

Variable stars with well-calibrated period-luminosity relationships provide accurate distance measurements to nearby galaxies and are therefore a vital tool for cosmology and astrophysics. While these measurements typically rely on samples of Cepheid and RR-Lyrae stars, abundant populations of luminous variable stars with longer periods of $10 - 1000$ days remain largely unused. We apply machine learning to derive a mapping between lightcurve features of these variable stars and their magnitude to extend the traditional period-luminosity (PL) relation commonly used for Cepheid samples. Using photometric data for long period variable stars in the Large Magellanic cloud (LMC), we demonstrate that our predictions produce residual errors comparable to those obtained on the corresponding Cepheid population. We show that our model generalizes well to other samples by performing a blind test on photometric data from the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Our predictions on the SMC again show small residual errors and biases, comparable to results that employ PL relations fitted on Cepheid samples. The residual biases are complementary between the long period variable and Cepheid fits, which provides exciting prospects to better control sources of systematic error in cosmological distance measurements. We finally show that the proposed methodology can be used to optimize samples of variable stars as standard candles independent of any prior variable star classification., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, updated to match the version accepted by the MNRAS

We derive a distance of $D = 16.6 \pm 0.3$~Mpc ($\mu=31.10\pm0.04$~mag) to the archetypal narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051 based on Cepheid Period--Luminosity relations and new Hubble Space Telescope multiband imaging. We identify 419 Cepheid candidates and estimate the distance at both optical and near-infrared wavelengths using subsamples of precisely-photometered variables (123 and 47 in the optical and near-infrared subsamples, respectively). We compare our independent photometric procedures and distance-estimation methods to those used by the SH0ES team and find agreement to 0.01~mag. The distance we obtain suggests an Eddington ratio $\dot{m} \approx 0.2$ for NGC 4051, typical of narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, unlike the seemingly-odd value implied by previous distance estimates. We derive a peculiar velocity of $-490\pm34$~km~s$^{-1}$ for NGC 4051, consistent with the overall motion of the Ursa Major Cluster in which it resides. We also revisit the energetics of the NGC 4051 nucleus, including its outflow and mass accretion rates., Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ

Our work presents an independent calibration of the J-region Asymptotic Giant Branch (JAGB) method using Infrared Survey Facility (IRSF) photometric data and a custom luminosity function profile to determine JAGB mean magnitudes for nine galaxies. We determine a mean absolute magnitude of carbon stars of $M_{LMC}=-6.212 \pm 0.010$ (stat.) $\pm 0.030$ (syst.) mag. We then use near-infrared photometry of a number of nearby galaxies, originally obtained by our group to determine their distances from Cepheids using the Leavitt law, in order to independently determine their distances with the JAGB method. We compare the JAGB distances obtained in this work with the Cepheid distances resulting from the same photometry and find very good agreement between the results from the two methods. The mean difference is 0.01 mag with an rms scatter of 0.06 mag after taking into account seven out of the eight analyzed galaxies that had their distances determined using Cepheids. The very accurate distance to the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) based on detached eclipsing binaries (Graczyk et al. 2020) is also in very good agreement with the distance obtained from carbon stars., accepted for ApJ

We calculate models of stellar evolution for very massive stars and include the effects of modified gravity to investigate the influence on the physical properties of blue supergiant stars and their use as extragalactic distance indicators. With shielding and fifth force parameters in a similar range as in previous studies of Cepheid and tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) stars we find clear effects on stellar luminosity and flux-weighted gravity. The relationship between flux weighted gravity, g_F = g/Teff^4, and bolometric magnitude M_bol (FGLR), which has been used successfully for accurate distance determinations, is systematically affected. While the stellar evolution FGLRs show a systematic offset from the observed relation, we can use the differential shifts between models with Newtonian and modified gravity to estimate the influence on FGLR distance determinations. Modified gravity leads to a distance increase of 0.05 to 0.15 magnitudes in distance modulus. These change are comparable to the ones found for Cepheid stars. We compare observed FGLR and TRGB distances of nine galaxies to constrain the free parameters of modified gravity. Not accounting for systematic differences between TRGB and FGLR distances shielding parameters of 5*10^-7 and 10^-6 and fifth force parameters of 1/3 and 1 can be ruled out with about 90% confidence. Allowing for potential systematic offsets between TRGB and FGLR distances no determination is possible for a shielding parameter of 10^-6. For 5*10$^-7 a fifth force parameter of 1 can be ruled out to 92% but 1/3 is unlikely only to 60%., To be published in the Astrophysical Journal