As of 2017[update], there are over 52,011 known variable stars,[1] with more being discovered regularly, so a complete list of every single variable is impossible at this place (cf. GCVS). The following is a list of variable stars that are well-known, bright, significant, or otherwise interesting.
Designation (name) | Constellation | Discovery | Apparent magnitude (Maximum)[2] | Apparent magnitude (Minimum)[3] | Range of magnitude | Period | Type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R And | Andromeda | 5m.8 | 14m.9 | 9.1 | 409 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
S And (Supernova 1885) | Andromeda | Ernst Hartwig, August 20, 1885 | 5m.8 | 16m | 10.2 | Supernova (SNI) | ||
U Ant | Antlia | 8m.1 (p) | 9m.7 (p) | 1.6 | LB | |||
θ Aps | Apus | 6m.4 (p) | 8m.6 (p) | 2.2 | 119 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
η Aql | Aquila | Pigott, 1784 | 3m.48 | 4m.39 | 0.91 | 7.17664 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | |
R Aql | Aquila | 5m.5 | 12m.0 | 6.5 | 284 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
V Aql | Aquila | 6m.6 | 8m.4 | 1.8 | 353 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
R Aqr | Aquarius | Karl Ludwig Harding, 1810 | 5m.8 | 12m.4 | 6.9 | 387 d | Mira variable (M) | |
T Aqr | Aquarius | 7m.2 | 14m.2 | 7.0 | 202 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Ara | Ara | 7m.7 | 14m.1 | 6.4 | 225 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Ari | Aries | 7m.4 | 13m.7 | 6.3 | 187 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Ari | Aries | 7m.2 | 15m.2 | 8.0 | 371 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
ε Aur (Almaaz) | Auriga | Johann Heinrich Fritsch, 1821 | 2m.92 | 3m.83 | 0.91 | 27.08 years | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/GS) | |
R Aur | Auriga | 6m.7 | 13m.9 | 7.2 | 458 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
AE Aur | Auriga | 5m.78 | 6m.08 | 0.30 | Orion variable (INA) | |||
R Boo | Boötes | 6m.2 | 13m.1 | 6.9 | 223 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
W Boo | Boötes | 4m.73 | 5m.4 | 0.67 | 450 d | Semiregular (SRB:) | ||
X Cam | Camelopardalis | 7m.4 | 14m.2 | 6.8 | 144 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
VZ Cam | Camelopardalis | 4m.80 | 4m.96 | 0.16 | 23.7 d | Semiregular (SR) | ||
R Cap | Capricornus | Hind, 1848 | 9m.4 | 14m.9 | 5.5 | 345 d | Mira variable (M) | |
η Car | Carina | Burchell, 1827 | -0m.8 | 7m.9 | 8.6 | S Doradus (SDOR) | "The unpredictable supergiant" | |
l Car | Carina | 3m.28 | 4m.18 | 0.90 | 35.53584 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
R Car | Carina | 3m.9 | 10m.5 | 6.6 | 309 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
S Car | Carina | 4m.5 | 9m.9 | 5.4 | 149 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
γ Cas | Cassiopeia | 1m.6 | 3m.0 | 1.4 | Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS) | |||
R Cas | Cassiopeia | 4m.7 | 13m.5 | 8.9 | 430 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
S Cas | Cassiopeia | 7m.9 | 16m.1 | 8.2 | 612 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
W Cas | Cassiopeia | 7m.8 | 12m.5 | 4.7 | 406 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
WZ Cas | Cassiopeia | 6m.3 | 8m.5 | 2.2 | Semiregular (SRB) | Visual double star, visible through binoculars | ||
R Cen | Centaurus | 5m.3 | 11m.8 | 6.5 | 546 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
S Cen | Centaurus | 9m.2 (p) | 10m.7 (p) | 1.5 | 65 d | Semiregular (SR) | ||
T Cen | Centaurus | 5m.5 | 9m.0 | 3.5 | 90.44 d | Semiregular (SRA) | ||
V645 Cen (Proxima Centauri) | Centaurus | 12m.1 (B) | 13m.12 (B) | 1.02 | UV Ceti (UV) | |||
δ Cep | Cepheus | John Goodricke, 1784 | 3m.48 | 4m.37 | 0.89 | 5.36634 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) prototype | double star, visible in binoculars |
Vega | Lyra | -0m.02 | 0m.07 | 0.09 | 0.107 d | Delta Scuti variable | Brightest variable star in the sky. | |
μ Cep (Herschel's Garnet Star) | Cepheus | William Herschel, 1782 | 3m.43 | 5m.1 | 1.67 | 730 d | Semiregular (SRC) | |
S Cep | Cepheus | 7m.4 | 12m.9 | 5.5 | 487 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
T Cep | Cepheus | 5m.2 | 11m.3 | 6.1 | 388 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Cep | Cepheus | 6m.75 | 9m.24 | 2.49 | 2.49305 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) | ||
SS Cep | Cepheus | 8m.0 (p) | 9m.1 (p) | 1.1 | 90 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
ST Cep | Cepheus | 7m.8 | None | Mira variable (M) | ||||
AR Cep | Cepheus | 7m.0 | 7m.9 | 0.9 | Semiregular (SRB) | |||
ο Cet (Mira) | Cetus | David Fabricius, 1596; variability may have been first noted by Johannes Fokkes Holwarda, 1638 | 2m.0 | 10m.1 | 8.1 | 332 d | Mira variable (M) | "The miraculous" The first discovered non-ephemeral/cataclysmic variable star. |
T Cet | Cetus | 5m.0 | 6m.9 | 1.9 | 159 d | Semiregular (SRC) | ||
U Cet | Cetus | 6m.8 | 13m.4 | 6.6 | 235 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
W Cet | Cetus | 7m.1 | 14m.8 | 7.7 | 351 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Cha | Chamaeleon | 7m.5 | 14m.2 | 6.7 | 335 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R CMa | Canis Major | 5m.70 | 6m.34 | 0.64 | 1.13594 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) | ||
VY CMa | Canis Major | 6m.5 | 9m.6 | 3.1 | unique (*) | |||
FW CMa | Canis Major | 5m.00 | 5m.50 | 0.50 | Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS) | |||
S CMi | Canis Minor | 6m.6 | 13m.2 | 6.6 | 333 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Cnc | Cancer | 6m.07 | 11m.8 | 5.73 | 362 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
S Cnc | Cancer | Hind, 1848 | 8m.29 | 10m.25 | 1.96 | 9.48455 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DS) | |
T Cnc | Cancer | Hind, 1850 | 7m.6 | 10m.5 | 2.9 | 482 d | Semiregular (SRB) | |
X Cnc | Cancer | 5m.6 | 7m.5 | 1.9 | 195 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
T Col | Columba | 6m.6 | 12m.7 | 6.1 | 226 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Com | Coma Berenices | 7m.1 | 14m.6 | 7.5 | 363 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
α CrB (Alphecca or Gemma) | Corona Borealis | 2m.21 (B) | 2m.32 (B) | 0.11 | 17.35991 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) | ||
R CrB | Corona Borealis | Piggott, 1795 | 5m.71 | 14m.8 | 9.09 | R Coronae Borealis (RCB) | ||
S CrB | Corona Borealis | 5m.8 | 14m.1 | 8.7 | 360 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
T CrB | Corona Borealis | 2m.0 | 10m.8 | 8.8 | (80 years) | recurrent nova (NR) | ||
U CrB | Corona Borealis | 7m.66 | 8m.79 | 1.13 | 3.45220 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) | ||
V CrB | Corona Borealis | 6m.9 | 12m.6 | 5.3 | 358 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
W CrB | Corona Borealis | 7m.8 | 14m.3 | 6.5 | 238 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Cru | Crux | 6m.40 | 7m.23 | 0.83 | 5.82575 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
R Crv | Corvus | 6m.7 | 14m.4 | 7.7 | 317 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
χ Cyg | Cygnus | Kirch, 1686 | 3m.3 | 14m.2 | 10.9 | 408 d | Mira variable (M) | |
R Cyg | Cygnus | 6m.1 | 14m.4 | 8.3 | 426 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Cyg | Cygnus | 5m.9 | 12m.1 | 6.2 | 463 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
W Cyg | Cygnus | 6m.80 (B) | 8m.9 (B) | 2.1 | 131 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
X Cyg | Cygnus | 5m.85 | 6m.91 | 1.06 | 16.38633 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
RT Cyg | Cygnus | 6m.0 | 13m.1 | 7.1 | 190 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
SS Cyg | Cygnus | 7m.7 | 12m.4 | 4.7 | (49.5 d) | dwarf nova UGSS prototype | ||
SU Cyg | Cygnus | 6m.44 | 7m.22 | 0.78 | 3.84555 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
CH Cyg | Cygnus | 5m.60 | 8m.49 | 2.89 | Z Andromedae (ZAND+SR) | |||
R Del | Delphinus | 7m.6 | 13m.8 | 6.2 | 285 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Del | Delphinus | 7m.6 (p) | 8m.9 (p) | 1.3 | 110 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
EU Del | Delphinus | 5m.79 | 6m.9 | 1.11 | 59.7 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
β Dor | Dorado | 3m.46 | 4m.08 | 0.62 | 9.8426 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
S Dor | Dorado | 8m.6 (B) | 11m.5 (B) | 2.9 | S Doradus (SDOR) (prototype) | in the Large Magellanic Cloud | ||
R Dra | Draco | 6m.7 | 13m.2 | 6.5 | 246 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
T Eri | Eridanus | 7m.2 | 13m.2 | 6.0 | 252 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R For | Fornax | 7m.5 | 13m.0 | 5.5 | 389 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
η Gem (Propus) | Gemini | 3m.15 | 3m.9 | 0.75 | 233 d | Semiregular (SRA+EA) | ||
ζ Gem (Mekbuda) | Gemini | 3m.62 | 4m.18 | 0.56 | 10.15073 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
R Gem | Gemini | Hind, 1848 | 6m.0 | 14m.0 | 8.0 | 370 d | Mira variable (M) | |
S Gem | Gemini | Hind, 1848 | 8m.0 | 14m.7 | 6.7 | 293 d | Mira variable (M) | |
T Gem | Gemini | Hind, 1848 | 8m.0 | 15m.0 | 7.0 | 288 d | Mira variable (M) | |
U Gem | Gemini | 8m.2 | 14m.9 | 6.7 | (105.2 d) | dwarf nova (UGSS+E) | ||
S Gru | Grus | 6m.0 | 15m.0 | 9.0 | 402 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
α Her (Rasalgethi) | Hercules | William Herschel, 1759 | 2m.74 | 4m.0 | 1.26 | Semiregular (SRC) | ||
g Her (30 Her) | Hercules | 4m.3 | 6m.3 | 2.0 | 89.2 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
u Her (68 Her) | Hercules | 4m.69 | 5m.37 | 0.68 | 2.05103 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) | ||
S Her | Hercules | 6m.4 | 13m.8 | 7.4 | 307 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Her | Hercules | 6m.4 | 13m.4 | 7.0 | 406 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
X Her | Hercules | 7m.5 (p) | 8m.6 (p) | 1.1 | 95.0 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
R Hor | Horologium | 4m.7 | 14m.3 | 9.6 | 408 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Hor | Horologium | 7m.8 (p) | 15m.1 (p) | 6.3 | 348 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Hya | Hydra | Maraldi, 1704 | 3m.5 | 10m.9 | 7.4 | 389 d | Mira variable (M) | |
S Hya | Hydra | Hind, 1848 | 7m.2 | 13m.3 | 6.1 | 257 d | Mira variable (M) | |
U Hya | Hydra | 7m.0 (B) | 9m.4 (B) | 2.4 | ~450 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
VW Hya | Hydra | 10m.5 | 14m.1 | 3.6 | 2.69642 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) | ||
BL Lac | Lacerta | 12m.4 (B) | 17m.2 (B) | 4.8 | BLLAC prototype | originally thought to be a variable star, but later
discovered to be a blazar | ||
R Leo | Leo | J.A. Koch, 1782 | 4m.4 | 11m.3 | 6.9 | 310 d | Mira variable (M) | |
R Lep | Lepus | 5m.5 | 11m.7 | 6.2 | 427 d | Mira variable (M) | Hind's Crimson Star | |
RX Lep | Lepus | 5m.0 | 7m.4 | 2.4 | ~60 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
R LMi | Leo Minor | 6m.3 | 13m.2 | 6.9 | 372 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
RU Lup | Lupus | 9m.6 (p) | 13m.4 (p) | 3.8 | Orion variable (INT) | |||
β Lyr (Sheliak) | Lyra | John Goodricke, 1784 | 3m.25 | 4m.36 | 1.11 | 12.91383 d | Eclipsing binary Beta Lyrae type (prototype) | |
R Lyr | Lyra | 3m.88 | 5m.0 | 1.12 | ~46 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
RR Lyr | Lyra | 7m.06 | 8m.12 | 1.06 | 0.566868 d | RR Lyrae variable (prototype) | ||
U Mic | Microscopium | 7m.0 | 14m.4 | 7.7 | 334 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Mon | Monoceros | 6m.1 (p) | 8m.8 (p) | 2.7 | 91.3 d | RV Tauri variable (RVB) | ||
V Mon | Monoceros | 6m.0 | 13m.9 | 7.9 | 341 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Nor | Norma | 6m.5 (p) | 13m.9 (p) | 7.4 | 508 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
T Nor | Norma | 6m.2 | 13m.6 | 7.4 | 241 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Oct | Octans | 6m.4 | 13m.2 | 6.8 | 405 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
S Oct | Octans | 7m.2 | 14m.0 | 6.8 | 259 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
V Oph | Ophiuchus | 7m.3 | 11m.6 | 4.3 | 297 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
X Oph | Ophiuchus | 5m.9 | 9m.2 | 3.3 | 329 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
RS Oph | Ophiuchus | 4m.3 | 12m.5 | 8.2 | recurrent nova (NR) | |||
BF Oph | Ophiuchus | 6m.93 | 7m.71 | 0.78 | 4.06775 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
α Ori (Betelgeuse) | Orion | John Herschel, 1840 | 0m.0 | 1m.3 | 1.3 | 6.39 years | Semiregular (SRC) | |
δ Ori (Mintaka) | Orion | John Herschel, 1834 | 2m.14 | 2m.26 | 0.12 | 5.73248 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) | |
R Ori | Orion | Hind, 1848 | 9m.05 | 13m.4 | 4.35 | 377 d | Mira variable (M) | |
U Ori | Orion | 4m.8 | 13m.0 | 8.5 | 368 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
W Ori | Orion | 8m.2 (p) | 12m.4 (p) | 4.2 | 212 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
VV Ori | Orion | 5m.31 | 5m.66 | 0.35 | 1.48538 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/KE:) | ||
CK Ori | Orion | 5m.9 | 7m.1 | 1.2 | ~120 d | Semiregular (SR:) | ||
κ Pav | Pavo | 3m.91 | 4m.78 | 0.87 | 9.09423 d | Type II Cepheid (CW) | ||
S Pav | Pavo | 6m.6 | 10m.4 | 3.8 | 381 d | Semiregular (SRA) | ||
β Peg (Scheat) | Pegasus | Schmidt, 1847 | 2m.31 | 2m.74 | 0.43 | LB | ||
ε Peg (Enif) | Pegasus | 0m.7 | 3m.5 | 2.8 | LC | |||
R Peg | Pegasus | Hind, 1848 | 6m.9 | 13m.8 | 6.9 | 378 d | Mira variable (M) | |
X Peg | Pegasus | 8m.8 | 14m.4 | 5.8 | 201 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
β Per (Algol) | Perseus | Geminiano Montanari, 1669 | 2m.12 | 3m.39 | 1.27 | 2.86730 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) (prototype) | The Demon Star |
DY Persei | Perseus | R Coronae Borealis / DY Persei / (prototype) | ||||||
φ Per | Perseus | 3m.96 | 4m.11 | 0.15 | 19.5 d | Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS) | ||
ρ Per | Perseus | 3m.30 | 4m.0 | 0.70 | ~50 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
X Per | Perseus | 6m.03 | 7m.0 | 0.97 | Gamma Cassiopeiae (GCAS+XP) | |||
ζ Phe (Wurren) | Phoenix | 3m.91 | 4m.42 | 0.51 | 1.66977 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) | ||
R Pic | Pictor | 6m.35 | 10m.1 | 3.75 | 171 d | Semiregular (SR) | ||
R Psc | Pisces | Hind, 1850 | 7m.0 | 14m.8 | 7.8 | 345 d | Mira variable (M) | |
TX Psc | Pisces | 4m.79 | 5m.20 | 0.42 | LB | |||
L2 Pup | Puppis | 2m.6 | 6m.2 | 3.6 | 141 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
RS Pup | Puppis | 6m.52 | 7m.67 | 1.15 | 41.3876 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
T Pyx | Pyxis | 7m.0 (B) | 15m.77 (B) | 8.77 | (20 years) | recurrent nova (NR) | ||
S Scl | Sculptor | 5m.5 | 13m.6 | 8.1 | 363 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
RR Sco | Scorpius | 5m.0 | 12m.4 | 7.4 | 281 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
RS Sco | Scorpius | 6m.2 | 13m.0 | 6.8 | 320 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
RT Sco | Scorpius | 7m.0 | 15m.2 | 8.2 | 449 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Sct | Scutum | Pigott, 1795 | 4m.2 | 8m.6 | 4.4 | 146.5 d | RV Tauri variable (RVA) | |
R Ser | Serpens | Harding, 1826 | 5m.16 | 14m.4 | 9.24 | 356 d | Mira variable (M) | |
S Ser | Serpens | Harding, 1828 | 7m.0 | 14m.1 | 7.1 | 372 d | Mira variable (M) | |
U Sge | Sagitta | 6m.45 | 9m.28 | 2.83 | 3.38062 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/SD) | ||
WZ Sge | Sagitta | 7m.0 (B) | 15m.53 (B) | 8.53 | (33 years) | dwarf nova (UGSU+E+ZZ) | ||
RR Sgr | Sagittarius | 5m.4 | 14m.0 | 8.6 | 336 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R Sgr | Sagittarius | 6m.7 | 12m.83 | 6.13 | 270 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U Sgr | Sagittarius(in M25) | 6m.28 | 7m.15 | 0.87 | 6.74523 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEP) | ||
RT Sgr | Sagittarius | 6m.0 | 14m.1 | 8.1 | 306 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
RU Sgr | Sagittarius | 6m.0 | 13m.8 | 7.8 | 240 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
RY Sgr | Sagittarius | 5m.8 | 14m.0 | 8.2 | R Coronae Borealis (RCB) | |||
VX Sgr | Sagittarius | 6m.52 | 14m.0 | 7.08 | 732 d | Semiregular (SRC) | ||
λ Tau | Taurus | Baxendell, 1848 | 3m.37 | 3m.91 | 0.54 | 3.95295 d | Eclipsing binary Algol type (EA/DM) | |
R Tau | Taurus | Hind, 1849 | 7m.6 | 15m.8 | 8.2 | 321 d | Mira variable (M) | |
T Tau | Taurus | 9m.3 | 13m.5 | 4.2 | Orion variable (INT) | |||
SU Tau | Taurus | 9m.1 | 16m.86 | 7.76 | R Coronae Borealis (RCB) | |||
R Tri | Triangulum | 5m.4 | 12m.6 | 7.2 | 267 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
R UMa | Ursa Major | 6m.5 | 13m.7 | 7.2 | 302 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
T UMa | Ursa Major | 6m.6 | 13m.5 | 6.9 | 257 d | Mira variable (M) | ||
U UMa | Ursa Major | 6m.20 | 6m.25 | 0.05 | - | |||
W UMa | Ursa Major | 7m.75 | 8m.48 | 0.73 | 0.3336 d | Eclipsing binary W Ursae Majoris type (prototype) | ||
Z UMa | Ursa Major | 6m.2 | 9m.4 | 3.2 | 196 d | Semiregular (SRB) | ||
α UMi (Polaris) | Ursa Minor | 1m.86 | 2m.13 | 0.27 | 3.9696 d | Classical Cepheid (DCEPS) | ||
R Vir | Virgo | Harding, 1809 | 6m.1 | 12m.1 | 6.0 | 146 d | Mira variable (M) | |
S Vir | Virgo | 6m.3 | 13m.2 | 6.9 | 375 d | Mira variable (M) |