binary star
Two orbiting suns
A binary star is a system of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass.
Many stars visible to the naked eye turn out to be binaries when observed through telescopes.
Some binary stars eclipse each other periodically, causing predictable variations in brightness.
The term distinguishes these gravitationally bound pairs from optical doubles, which only appear close together from Earth's vantage point.
Study of light-matter interaction
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- gravitational wavesPropagating curvature in spacetime
- nuclear fusionAtoms joining, releasing power
- main sequenceStable stellar burning phase
red giant · white dwarf · supernova · nova · angular momentum · tidal forces · stellar wind
Two matching things
- duoTwo working together
- doubleTwice the amount
- tandemSequential two-person arrangement
- twinOne of matched pair
dyad · coupled · twosome · partnership · companion · counterpart · mutual · dance
Measuring light intensity
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
- transitMovement between places
- dimmingDecreasing in brightness
- ingressAccess or entry right
egress · periodicity · minima · maxima · variability · partial eclipse · totality
Night's most luminous point
- PolarisCelestial north marker
- Alpha CentauriClosest star system
- CastorMythic twin, now stellar
- CapellaAuriga's leading light
Mutual orbit point
- elliptical orbitOval-shaped celestial path
- eccentricityUnconventional behavior or nature
- inclinationDisposition toward something
- astrometryMeasuring celestial body positions
spectroscopy
Study of light-matter interaction
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- gravitational wavesPropagating curvature in spacetime
- nuclear fusionAtoms joining, releasing power
main sequence · red giant · white dwarf · supernova · nova · angular momentum · tidal forces · stellar wind
pair
Two matching things
twin · dyad · coupled · twosome · partnership · companion · counterpart · mutual · dance · waltz
photometry
Measuring light intensity
- occultationCelestial body blocking another
- transitMovement between places
- dimmingDecreasing in brightness
ingress · egress · periodicity · minima · maxima · variability · partial eclipse · totality
Sirius
Night's most luminous point
- PolarisCelestial north marker
- Alpha CentauriClosest star system
- CastorMythic twin, now stellar
barycenter
Mutual orbit point
- elliptical orbitOval-shaped celestial path
- eccentricityUnconventional behavior or nature
- inclinationDisposition toward something
astrometry · perturbation · apsidal precession · orbital decay
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- outer spacesun, moon, planet, solar system, comet
- spacespace, sun, moon, stars, Earth
- astronomy termseclipse, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, meteor shower, galaxy
- space objectsgalaxy, nebula, planet, quasar, asteroid
- stargazingtelescope, stargazing guides, night sky, stars, telescopes