Binary
Star Data Page
[Introduction
To Binary Stars]
[Physics
of Binary Stars] [Binary Star Case
Study]
[Case
Study Solution]
Gravitation|Astronomy|Topics
This page contains
data for the types of stars shown in the introduction to Binary Stars.
The data can also be used in conjunction with the case study on Binary
Stars. When classifing these stars, the pair both share the same name,
but with the suffix of A for the larger of the two and B for the smaller.
Visual
Binaries
Our nearest neighbour
Alpha Centauri is an example of this.
Distance From Earth
(pc)
|
Period of Orbit
(years)
|
Angular Separation
(")
|
Mass A
(m(sol))
|
Mass B
(m(sol))
|
|
1.34
|
79.9
|
19
|
1.09
|
0.9
|
Spectral
Binaries
As stated in the introduction
these can only be shown to be two distinct stars by the doppler shifts
of the emitted light. An example of this is Alpha Aurigae.
Distance From Earth
(pc)
|
Period of Orbit
(days)
|
Angular Separation
(")
|
Mass A
(m(sol))
|
Mass B
(m(sol))
|
|
13.2
|
104.06
|
2
|
2.63
|
2.59
|
Eclipsing
Binaries
These are a special type
of Binary where the line of sight from earth lies in the plane of the orbit.
Hence the two stars will periodically eclipse one another. They can be
of either visaul form, were one star will dissappear or spectural when
the star seems to bulge. The example below is the spectral Binary WW Aurigae
(spectral due to the very small angular separation)
.
Distance From Earth
(pc)
|
Period of Orbit
(days)
|
Angular Separation
(")
|
Mass A
(m(sol))
|
Mass B
(m(sol))
|
|
80
|
2.525
|
0.0007
|
1.97
|
1.79
|
X-Ray
Binaries
Since in X Ray Binary
Stars one of the stars is destroying the other, data upon its size and
separation is of little relevence in
the equations that are on this site, and so have not been included.
The
Satellites
Hipparcos Satellite
Most of the data on
this page was gathered from The European
Space Agency Hipparcos Satellite. The mission was started in 1989 and
its aim was to compile a catalog of over 120000 stars in the sky. The mission
ended in 1993.
Hubble Telescope
This is probably the
most famous of the worlds observation satellite. It was launched in 1990
by NASA it has been used to study all types of space phenomina from stars
to planets. Its latest discoveries can be looked at via the Nasa
web site.
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