W Virginis stars

W Virginis stars

(ver -ji-niss) See Cepheid variables.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

W Virginis stars

[¦dəb·əl·yü vər′jin·əs ‚stärz]

(astronomy)

Periodic variable stars with periods of about 10 to 30 days; they exhibit two surges of activity from the same star so that there is a doubling of their spectral lines. Also known as Type II Cepheids.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.