U Car is a δ Cepheid variable with a period of 38.7681 days. It was one of the earliest Cepheids to be discovered. It has also one of the longest periods, and hence is one of the most luminous in the class.[10] There are still only a few Cepheids with longer periods, including RS Puppis, SV Vulpeculae, and the unusual S Vulpeculae.[2]
The brightness variation in U Car is caused by fundamental mode pulsations. The radius and temperature both vary, with the radius changing by 42 R☉ during each cycle.[11] The temperature variation causes the spectral type to vary between F6 and G7.
^ abcdSamus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
^Shapley, H. (1918). "Studies based on the colors and magnitudes in stellar clusters. VIII. The luminosities and distances of 139 Cepheid variables". Astrophysical Journal. 48: 279. Bibcode:1918ApJ....48..279S. doi:10.1086/142435.