Cepheids in the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract

Cepheid variables provide a key to understanding the structure and distance of the Magellanic Clouds, as well as providing accurate reddenings there. Recent major observing programs have continually expanded the data base of photometry and velocities. It is important to try to reconcile the plethora of Cepheid data into a consonant picture of the three-dimensional spatial structure of the Clouds and to compare in a consistent manner the bulk Cloud distance moduli found by several photometric methods.