Stellar Cartography: Mapping the Local Group with Variable Stars Vicky Scowcroft, Carnegie Observatories, Pasadena

We are entering a new golden age for variable star studies. The range of instrumentation available now and in the coming decade, both in space and on the ground, provides an excellent suite of tools for studying the variable star populations within our own Galaxy, reaching out to beyond the Local Group, at exquisite precision.

I will discuss how we use mid-IR observations of Cepheids and RR Lyrae to produce 3D maps of our nearest galaxies, at fidelities never before achievable. I will demonstrate how the mid-IR colors of Cepheids can be used as a metallicity indicator, bringing 4D maps of the Magellanic Clouds within our reach using Spitzer, and for the whole Local Group with JWST.