A report on Double star, Binary star, Alpha Centauri and Star system
This occurs because the pair either forms a binary star (i.e. a binary system of stars in mutual orbit, gravitationally bound to each other) or is an optical double, a chance line-of-sight alignment of two stars at different distances from the observer.
- Double starIt is a triple star system consisting of α Centauri A (officially Rigil Kentaurus), α Centauri B (officially Toliman), and the closest star α Centauri C (officially Proxima Centauri).
- Alpha CentauriAlpha Centauri A and B are Sun-like stars (Class G and K, respectively), and together they form the binary star Alpha Centauri AB.
- Alpha CentauriA star system of two stars is known as a binary star, binary star system or physical double star.
- Star systemMultiple stars are also studied in this way, although the dynamics of multiple stellar systems are more complex than those of binary stars.
- Double starThe more general term double star is used for pairs of stars which are seen to be close together in the sky.
- Binary starAlpha Centauri
- Double starAlpha Centauri is a triple star composed of a main binary yellow dwarf pair (Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B), and an outlying red dwarf, Proxima Centauri. Together, A and B form a physical binary star, designated as Alpha Centauri AB, α Cen AB, or RHD 1 AB, where the AB denotes this is a binary system. The moderately eccentric orbit of the binary can make the components be as close as 11 AU or as far away as 36 AU. Proxima Centauri, also (though less frequently) called Alpha Centauri C, is much farther away (between 4300 and 13,000 AU) from α Cen AB, and orbits the central pair with a period of 547,000 (+66,000/-40,000) years.
- Star systemFor example, in about 6,200 AD, α Centauri's true motion will cause an extremely rare first-magnitude stellar conjunction with Beta Centauri, forming a brilliant optical double star in the southern sky.
- Alpha CentauriOrbital periods can be less than an hour (for AM CVn stars), or a few days (components of Beta Lyrae), but also hundreds of thousands of years (Proxima Centauri around Alpha Centauri AB).
- Binary starIt is estimated that approximately one third of the star systems in the Milky Way are binary or multiple, with the remaining two thirds being single stars.
- Binary star0 related topics with Alpha