Binary Star Systems

Two Separate Clusters of Stars

Binary stars of all kinds share orbit a central point of gravity. Although each binary star system follows this characteristic, there are three main ways to observe these of star systems. The visual binary star system is a system where telescopes are able to visually separate the stars into two separate points of light. In a spectroscopic binary system, astronomers are only able to tell the differences between two stars by analyzing their stellar compositions. Eclipsing binary star systems show variations in light emitted from the single point. A change of the output of energy is due to one star passing in front of the other.

Not all stars orbit each other. Sometimes, stars are arranged together in clusters. Globular clusters contain many stars and the stars can be very old. Open clusters contain just a few stars that are relatively young.