Variable Stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC)

霍勒斯·史密斯博士将利用这笔赠款研究变星， 小麦哲伦星云（Small Magellanic Cloud，SMC） 一百 一个先前已知的变量和205个新的变量 被发现的可疑变量将被纳入本次调查。 这不仅是SMC最广泛的研究之一， 迄今为止，在研究的恒星数量方面， 将比几乎所有其他的SMC调查都要模糊 场变星 第一次周期光度 最弱SMC的周期-频率直方图 造父变星将建立。 有关问题 SMC RR型天琴座恒星的性质和分布也将是 探讨了 麦哲伦星云中的造父变星 发现了周期光度关系 他们还 帮助勾勒出麦哲伦星云的结构， 用来检验恒星脉动理论和恒星 进化论 由于这些原因，麦哲伦云造父变星 一直是观察者最喜欢的目标。 史密斯博士的研究将 扩大SMC造父变星和RR天琴座的数据库， 了解它们的性质、演化和分布。

Dr. Horace Smith will use this grant to study variable stars in a specific area of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). One hundred and one previously known variables and two hundred and five newly discovered, suspected variables will be included in this survey. This will not only be one of the most extensive studies of SMC variables to date in terms of the number of stars studied, but it will extend fainter than almost all other investigations of SMC field variable stars. For the first time the period-luminosity relations and period-frequency histogram of the faintest SMC Cepheid stars will be established. Questions relating to the nature and distribution of SMC RR Lyrae stars will also be explored. Cepheid stars in the Magellanic Clouds played a significant role in the discovery of the period-luminosity relation. They also helped outline the structure of the Magellanic Clouds, and they have served to test both stellar pulsation theory and stellar evolution theory. For these reasons the Magellanic Cloud Cepheids have been favorite targets of observers. Dr. Smith's study will expand the data base on SMC Cepheids and RR Lyraes to better understand their nature, evolution, and distribution.