Technique · The Cosmic Distance Ladder

Standard Candles

Objects whose true brightness is known, so that how faint they appear gives their distance. Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae are the great standard candles that carry the distance ladder out into the universe.

The Cosmic Distance LadderMeasures: Distance from known luminosity

Highlights

›Known brightness plus apparent brightness gives distance

Knowledge connections

Member of groupThe Cosmic Distance Ladder
Associated withType Ia Supernova
Associated withRR Lyrae Stars
Associated withTip of the Red Giant Branch

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

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