Z-Distribution and Period Gradient of Classical Cepheids in the Galactic Plane

The z-coordinate distribution of cepheids was studied and the finding of Fernie(1968) that the cepheid layer is inclined to ward a formal Galactic plane and the Sun is located above the cepheid plane was confirmed. It was found that the z-distribution fits better to the parabolic form than a barometric form and a scale height of 54 pc was found. The well known phenomenon that the periods of classical cepheids decrease away from the Galactic center was crudely interpreted as due to an age gradient rater than an abundance gradient under the assumption that relations between the period and galactocentric distance, and between the abundance and period are linear.