Binaries, Page 55: [Previous Page] [Next Page] [Class Home Page] Textbook pages 379 - 390

Binary Stars

Types of Binary Stars :
• Apparent -







True binary stars are gravitationally bound. They do not orbit each other, but their CENTER OF MASS. Binary stars are always opposite each other from the CENTER OF MASS point in space. For any binary pair:




The low mass star (shown as M₁) will have to travel a very large diameter path, a₁, moving quickly. The high mass star (shown as M₂) travels a very small diameter path, a₂, and does so slowly.


• Visual -

  
  

  
  

• Spectroscopic -

  
  

  
  

• Eclipsing -