Show suggestion: Variable Stars

[uawxman]

Could you do a show on variable stars and how they got to be that way and what they were before they became variable? You can skip the eclipsing binary stars; they are pretty straightforward. I have heard that Polaris is a Cepheid variable and that it's variability has lessened in the last 100 years or so. Does this have any implications about using Cepheids as standard candles?

[Fraser]

That's the next show, it's already been recorded.

[C18H27NO3]

Wow! That was a quick response!

Do you always respond to suggestions this quickly?

[llarry]

Cool,

I have brought this topic up before and I'm sure I'm not the only one but I will be looking forward to this since I believe it is one of Dr. Gay's specialtys. Should be a great show. Thanks.

Larry

[Fraser]

Wow! That was a quick response!

Do you always respond to suggestions this quickly?

Only when your suggestion happens to be the show we just recorded. ;-)

[gaffo]

I'd like to know why 95-percent of Red Dwarfs are variable stars.

Would this prevent life from forming at places like:

http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/Wingmak...%20System.html


both jupiter mass planets are in the habitable zone - and such planets probably have moons. if a moon is big enough it can hold an atmosphere and I assume its magnetic field would protect against the parent planet.

but what of the radiation from a steller flare.

why are 5-percent of Red Dwarfs not variable?

anyway just wondering. not enough talk about Red Dwarfs which are the prime targets for exoplants and make up the vast majority of stars in the universe.

thanks.

great shows BTW - just found your site this evening.