Binary Orbit

Astronomers have found that Binary star systems, systems with two stars bound together by their gravity, are actually quite common. While all binary systems orbit their mutual center of gravity, not all binary star systems are eclipsing. This actually has more to do with us then it does with the distant star systems. If we view a binary system from the top or bottom, then one star does not pass in front of the other from our perspective and the amount of light we see from a star system does not vary. However, if we are happen to be looking right down the side of a binary system, one stars passage in front of the other can will cause the light from the other star to be blocked, and the amount of light coming in from the binary system will dim. Of course, binary systems are often comprised of two stars of different luminosities. When the brighter of the two stars eclipses the dimmer star, the drop in brightness is small, and we call this the secondary minimum. When the dimmer star eclipses the brighter, the drop is larger, and we call this the primary minimum.

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Education

Tags:

• binary
• star
• system
• eclipsing