The observational status of the Beta Cephei stars

The Beta Cephei stars are a group of variables of spectral type B, whose light and radial velocity periods lie between about three and seven hours. An up-to-date summary of the observational data for individual stars considered to be members of the Beta Cephei group is provided. The general properties of Beta Cephei stars as determined from a comparison between theory and observation are considered, taking into account location in the HR diagram and evolutionary state, physical properties, statistics and galactic distribution, and period-luminosity relation and pulsation mode. Recent trends concerning the observation of Beta Cephei stars are examined, giving attention to a search for new variables, ultraviolet observations from spacecraft, and high-resolution studies of profile variations.