Quote#Truth
Apparently no sharp dividing line can be drawn between true Algol…
Quote byHenrietta Swan Leavitt · 1868–1921
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "Ten Variable Stars of the Algol Type" (1908) Annals of the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard College Vol.60. No.5.
English (original)
Apparently no sharp dividing line can be drawn between true Algol stars and those whose variations are continuous. Periods of nine variables in this region, which are of the Algol type or closely resemble it, have been determined and are here discussed.
— Henrietta Swan Leavitt
More from Henrietta Swan Leavitt
the actual time devoted to the search for new variables is small, but thorough observation requires much time, while the discussion of results may be prolonged almost indefinitely.
A straight line can readily be drawn among each of the two series of points corresponding to the maxima and minima, thus showing that there is a simple relation between the brightness of the variables and their periods.
The discovery of variable stars
It is worthy of notice that in Table VI the brighter variables have the longer periods. It is also noticeable that those having the longest periods appear to be as regular in their variations as those which pass through their changes in a …
has progressed so rapidly during the last five years, that the difficulty of keeping pace in observing and discussing them has become very great.
Since the [Cepheid] variables are probably at nearly the same distance from the Earth, their periods are apparently associated with their actual emission of light, as determined by their mass, density, and surface brightness.