Abstract We review the phenomenology of classical Cepheids (CCs), Anomalous Cepheids (ACs) and type II Cepheids (TIICs) in the Milky Way (MW) and in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). We also examine the Hertzsprung progression in different stellar systems by using the shape of I -band light curves (Fourier parameters) and observables based on the difference in magnitude and in phase between the bump and the minimum in luminosity. The distribution of Cepheids in optical and in optical–near infrared (NIR) color–magnitude diagrams is investigated to constrain the topology of the instability strip. The use of Cepheids as tracers of young (CCs), intermediate (ACs) and old (TIICs) stellar populations are brought forward by the comparison between observations (MCs) and cluster isochrones covering a broad range in stellar ages and in chemical compositions. The different diagnostics adopted to estimate individual distances (period–luminosity, period–Wesenheit, period–luminosity–color relations) are reviewed together with pros and cons in the use of fundamental and overtones, optical and NIR photometric bands, and reddening free pseudo magnitudes (Wesenheit). We also discuss the use of CCs as stellar tracers and the radial gradients among the different groups of elements (iron, $$\alpha $$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>α</mml:mi> </mml:math> , neutron-capture) together with their age-dependence. Finally, we briefly outline the role that near-future space and ground-based facilities will play in the astrophysical and cosmological use of Cepheids.

G. Bono

V. F. Braga

A. Pietrinferni

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review

天文学和天体物理学评论致力于天文学和天体物理学的所有领域，包括与其他领域接壤的学科。因此，可能包括与天文学直接相关的实验室或粒子物理学的发展，以及宇宙射线物理学、太阳系研究、天体生物学、仪器仪表以及具有特定天文学应用的计算和统计方法。旨在不时审查所有重要领域，审查频率将取决于不同领域的活动量。该杂志强调审查文章不仅在其科学内容方面具有最高质量，而且还具有很好的可读性。因此，它们为寻求进入一个新的或不熟悉的领域的科学家或学生以及需要他们不太熟悉的领域的权威材料的研究人员和讲师提供了一个极好的起点。

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review is dedicated to all areas of astronomy and astrophysics, including disciplines that intersect with other fields. This may include developments in laboratory or particle physics directly related to astronomy, as well as cosmic ray physics, solar system studies, astrobiology, instrumentation, and computational and statistical methods with specific astronomical applications. The journal aims to periodically review all significant areas, with the frequency of reviews depending on the level of activity in different fields. It emphasizes that review articles not only possess the highest quality in scientific content but also maintain excellent readability. Therefore, they provide an excellent starting point for scientists or students seeking to enter a new or unfamiliar field, as well as for researchers and lecturers needing authoritative materials in areas they are less familiar with.

《Astronomy and Astrophysics Review》致力于天文学和天体物理学的各个领域，包括与其他学科的交叉领域。内容可能涵盖与天文学直接相关的实验室或粒子物理学的发展、宇宙射线物理学、太阳系研究、天体生物学、仪器仪表，以及具有特定天文学应用的计算和统计方法。该期刊旨在定期审查所有重要领域，审查频率将根据各领域的活动量而定。杂志强调审查文章不仅在科学内容上具有最高质量，同时也具备良好的可读性。因此，这些文章为希望进入新领域或不熟悉领域的科学家和学生，以及需要权威材料的研究人员和讲师提供了极好的起点。

Category	Quartile
物理与天体物理	1
物理与天体物理, 天文与天体物理	1

Cepheids as distance indicators and stellar tracers

ivySCI AI Smartly Parses PDF, Answers Researchers' Questions, and Helps You Understand Papers in Seconds

Journal Info

Category	Quartile
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS	1