Astronomy Seminar
| Date/Time: | Friday, 25 Mar 2016 at 4:10 pm |
|---|---|
| Location: | 38 Physics |
| Contact: | Steve Kawaler, Physics and Astronomy |
| Phone: | 515-294-5440 |
| Channel: | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
| Categories: | Lectures |
| Actions: | Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder |
RR Lyrae stars can be used as high precision distance indicators at infrared wavelengths via a period-luminosity relation. I am working to provide the first calibration of this relation using data of globular clusters and isolated stars from Spitzer Space Telescope. In order to check our understanding of these variables, we have compared observations of RR Lyrae variables at optical, near IR, and mid IR wavelengths with theoretical predictions derived from stellar pulsation models. In this talk, I will discuss these recent results, and the current state of the infrared period-luminosity relation calibration.