Let us use the Cepheid method to find the distance of a star cluster. Suppose we have observed a Population 1 Cepheid in the cluster with a period of 11 days and average apparent magnitude of 2.3.
From the graph we see that the star's
luminosity
must be 10 000 times that of the Sun. This corresponds to a magnitude
difference of 10.
Click here for an explanation of the magnitude system.
Since the Sun's
absolute magnitude
is 4.8, the absolute magnitude of the star must be
4.8 - 10 = -5.2
We can now use a simple equation connecting absolute and apparent magnitude
with distance to find that the distance of the star and also its cluster is
about 320
parsecs.
Cepheids in globular clusters like this (M92) are used to help map our galaxy.
* Click here for more information about Cepheids