ECLIPSING BINARIES

ECLIPSING BINARY STAR SYSTEMS

A group of star systems that are suitable for photoelectric photometry and that provide both excitement and learning is the eclipsing binary group. An eclipsing binary star system contains two or more stars in orbit around there center of mass. These are usually systems that cannot be resolved with a telescope. Photoelectric photometry provides a means to gather information about these systems.

There are several systems that are easy and require continued observing. An astronomer with modest equipment can make significant contributions to astronomy by doing photoelectric photometry of these systems. These are unique in that they not only provide the observer with an observing project but also allow the ambitious observer to do some analysis of the data. There is a great deal that can be derived from the data. Information about the spectrum of the stars can be obtained when using filters. Information about the orbital periods, orbital inclination, size of the components, and masses of the components can be derived from the photometric data.

See additional information at http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/binstar.html

SUGGESTED LONG PERIOD
ECLIPSING BINARY STARS

SUGGESTED SHORT PERIOD
ECLIPSING BINARY STARS