RR Lyrae Variable - Subtypes

Subtypes

The RR Lyrae stars are conventionally divided into three main types following a classification of S.I. Bailey based on the shape of the stars' brightness curves:

• RRab, the majority type, which display steep rises in brightness of about 91%;
• RRc, a type with shorter periods and more sinusoidal variation of about 9%; and
• RRd, a rare type of double-mode pulsators.