A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars that orbit each other, [1] bound by gravitational attraction. A large group of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy , although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems. Star systems are not to be confused with planetary systems, which include planets and similar bodies (such as comets).
A star system of two stars is known as a binary star , binary star system or physical double star . If there are no tidal effects, no perturbation from other forces, and no transfer of mass from one star to the other, such a system is stable, and both stars will trace out an elliptical orbit around the barycenter of the system indefinitely.[ citation needed ](See Two-body problem). Examples of binary systems are Sirius, Procyon and Cygnus X-1, the last of which probably consists of a star and a black hole.
A multiple star system consists of two or more stars that appear from Earth to be close to one another in the sky.[ dubious – discuss ] This may result from the stars actually being physically close and gravitationally bound to each other, in which case it is a physical multiple star, or this closeness may be merely apparent, in which case it is an optical multiple star [a] Physical multiple stars are also commonly called multiple stars or multiple star systems. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Most multiple star systems are triple stars. Systems with four or more components are less likely to occur. [3] Multiple-star systems are called triple, ternary, or trinary if they contain 3 stars; quadruple or quaternary if they contain 4 stars; quintuple or quintenary with 5 stars; sextuple or sextenary with 6 stars; septuple or septenary with 7 stars; octuple or octenary with 8 stars. These systems are smaller than open star clusters, which have more complex dynamics and typically have from 100 to 1,000 stars. [6] Most multiple star systems known are triple; for higher multiplicities, the number of known systems with a given multiplicity decreases exponentially with multiplicity. [7] For example, in the 1999 revision of Tokovinin's catalog [3] of physical multiple stars, 551 out of the 728 systems described are triple. However, because of suspected selection effects, the ability to interpret these statistics is very limited. [8]
Multiple-star systems can be divided into two main dynamical classes:
or
Most multiple-star systems are organized in what is called a hierarchical system: the stars in the system can be divided into two smaller groups, each of which traverses a larger orbit around the system's center of mass. Each of these smaller groups must also be hierarchical, which means that they must be divided into smaller subgroups which themselves are hierarchical, and so on. [11] Each level of the hierarchy can be treated as a two-body problem by considering close pairs as if they were a single star. In these systems there is little interaction between the orbits and the stars' motion will continue to approximate stable [3] [12] Keplerian orbits around the system's center of mass, [13] unlike the unstable trapezia systems or the even more complex dynamics of the large number of stars in star clusters and galaxies.
In a physical triple star system, each star orbits the center of mass of the system. Usually, two of the stars form a close binary system, and the third orbits this pair at a distance much larger than that of the binary orbit. This arrangement is called hierarchical. [14] [11] The reason for this arrangement is that if the inner and outer orbits are comparable in size, the system may become dynamically unstable, leading to a star being ejected from the system. [15] EZ Aquarii is an example of a physical hierarchical triple system, which has an outer star orbiting an inner physical binary composed of two more red dwarf stars. Triple stars that are not all gravitationally bound might comprise a physical binary and an optical companion (such as Beta Cephei) or, in rare cases, a purely optical triple star (such as Gamma Serpentis).
Hierarchical multiple star systems with more than three stars can produce a number of more complicated arrangements. These arrangements can be organized by what Evans (1968) called mobile diagrams, which look similar to ornamental mobiles hung from the ceiling. Examples of hierarchical systems are given in the figure to the right (Mobile diagrams). Each level of the diagram illustrates the decomposition of the system into two or more systems with smaller size. Evans calls a diagram multiplex if there is a node with more than two children, i.e. if the decomposition of some subsystem involves two or more orbits with comparable size. Because, as we have already seen for triple stars, this may be unstable, multiple stars are expected to be simplex, meaning that at each level there are exactly two children. Evans calls the number of levels in the diagram its hierarchy. [11]
Higher hierarchies are also possible. [11] [18] Most of these higher hierarchies either are stable or suffer from internal perturbations. [19] [20] [21] Others consider complex multiple stars will in time theoretically disintegrate into less complex multiple stars, like more common observed triples or quadruples are possible. [22] [23]
Trapezia are usually very young, unstable systems. These are thought to form in stellar nurseries, and quickly fragment into stable multiple stars, which in the process may eject components as galactic high-velocity stars. [24] [25] They are named after the multiple star system known as the Trapezium Cluster in the heart of the Orion Nebula. [24] Such systems are not rare, and commonly appear close to or within bright nebulae. These stars have no standard hierarchical arrangements, but compete for stable orbits. This relationship is called interplay. [26] Such stars eventually settle down to a close binary with a distant companion, with the other star(s) previously in the system ejected into interstellar space at high velocities. [26] This dynamic may explain the runaway stars that might have been ejected during a collision of two binary star groups or a multiple system. This event is credited with ejecting AE Aurigae, Mu Columbae and 53 Arietis at above 200 km·s−1 and has been traced to the Trapezium cluster in the Orion Nebula some two million years ago. [27] [28]
The components of multiple stars can be specified by appending the suffixes A, B, C, etc., to the system's designation. Suffixes such as AB may be used to denote the pair consisting of A and B. The sequence of letters B, C, etc. may be assigned in order of separation from the component A. [29] [30] Components discovered close to an already known component may be assigned suffixes such as Aa, Ba, and so forth. [30]
A. A. Tokovinin's Multiple Star Catalogue uses a system in which each subsystem in a mobile diagram is encoded by a sequence of digits. In the mobile diagram (d) above, for example, the widest system would be given the number 1, while the subsystem containing its primary component would be numbered 11 and the subsystem containing its secondary component would be numbered 12. Subsystems which would appear below this in the mobile diagram will be given numbers with three, four, or more digits. When describing a non-hierarchical system by this method, the same subsystem number will be used more than once; for example, a system with three visual components, A, B, and C, no two of which can be grouped into a subsystem, would have two subsystems numbered 1 denoting the two binaries AB and AC. In this case, if B and C were subsequently resolved into binaries, they would be given the subsystem numbers 12 and 13. [3]
The current nomenclature for double and multiple stars can cause confusion as binary stars discovered in different ways are given different designations (for example, discoverer designations for visual binary stars and variable star designations for eclipsing binary stars), and, worse, component letters may be assigned differently by different authors, so that, for example, one person's A can be another's C. [31] Discussion starting in 1999 resulted in four proposed schemes to address this problem: [31]
For a designation system, identifying the hierarchy within the system has the advantage that it makes identifying subsystems and computing their properties easier. However, it causes problems when new components are discovered at a level above or intermediate to the existing hierarchy. In this case, part of the hierarchy will shift inwards. Components which are found to be nonexistent, or are later reassigned to a different subsystem, also cause problems. [34] [35]
During the 24th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union in 2000, the WMC scheme was endorsed and it was resolved by Commissions 5, 8, 26, 42, and 45 that it should be expanded into a usable uniform designation scheme. [31] A sample of a catalog using the WMC scheme, covering half an hour of right ascension, was later prepared. [36] The issue was discussed again at the 25th General Assembly in 2003, and it was again resolved by commissions 5, 8, 26, 42, and 45, as well as the Working Group on Interferometry, that the WMC scheme should be expanded and further developed. [37]
The sample WMC is hierarchically organized; the hierarchy used is based on observed orbital periods or separations. Since it contains many visual double stars, which may be optical rather than physical, this hierarchy may be only apparent. It uses upper-case letters (A, B, ...) for the first level of the hierarchy, lower-case letters (a, b, ...) for the second level, and numbers (1, 2, ...) for the third. Subsequent levels would use alternating lower-case letters and numbers, but no examples of this were found in the sample. [31]
A binary star or binary star system is a system of two stars that are gravitationally bound to and in orbit around each other. Binary stars in the night sky that are seen as a single object to the naked eye are often resolved as separate stars using a telescope, in which case they are called visual binaries. Many visual binaries have long orbital periods of several centuries or millennia and therefore have orbits which are uncertain or poorly known. They may also be detected by indirect techniques, such as spectroscopy or astrometry. If a binary star happens to orbit in a plane along our line of sight, its components will eclipse and transit each other; these pairs are called eclipsing binaries, or, together with other binaries that change brightness as they orbit, photometric binaries.
In observational astronomy, a double star or visual double is a pair of stars that appear close to each other as viewed from Earth, especially with the aid of optical telescopes.
Castor is the second-brightest object in the zodiac constellation of Gemini. It has the Bayer designation α Geminorum, which is Latinised to Alpha Geminorum and abbreviated Alpha Gem or α Gem. With an apparent visual magnitude of 1.58, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Castor appears singular to the naked eye, but it is actually a sextuple star system organized into three binary pairs. Although it is the 'α' (alpha) member of the constellation, it is half a magnitude fainter than 'β' (beta) Geminorum, Pollux.
EZ Aquarii is a triple star system 11.1 light-years from the Sun in the constellation Aquarius within the Milky Way. It is also known as Luyten 789-6, Gliese 866 and LHS 68. It is a variable star showing flares as well as smaller brightness changes due to rotation. The aggregate mass of the system is 0.3262±0.0018 solar masses. All three seem to have masses close to the hydrogen burning mass limit.
Beta Tucanae, Latinized from β Tucanae, is a group of six stars which appear to be at least loosely bound into a system in the constellation Tucana. Three of the stars are luminous and distinct enough to have been given their own Bayer designations, β1 Tucanae through β3 Tucanae. The system is approximately 140 light years from Earth.
Zeta Aquarii is the Bayer designation for a triple star system, the central star of the "water jar" asterism in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. The combined apparent visual magnitude of this system is 3.65, which is readily visible to the naked eye. Parallax measurements yield a distance estimate of around 92 light-years from Earth.
λ Ophiuchi, Latinized as Lambda Ophiuchi, is a triple star system in the equatorial constellation of Ophiuchus. It has the traditional name Marfik, which now applies exclusively to the primary component. The system is visible to the naked eye as a faint point of light with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.82. It is located approximately 173 light-years from the Sun, based on its parallax, but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of –16 km/s.
Xi2 Centauri, Latinized from ξ2 Centauri, is a triple star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.30, and forms a wide optical double with the slightly dimmer ξ1 Centauri. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 6.98 mas, Xi2 Centauri lies roughly 470 light years from the Sun. At that distance, the visual magnitude is diminished by an interstellar extinction factor of 0.32 due to intervening dust.
3 Centauri is a triple star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus, located approximately 300 light years from the Sun. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, blue-white hued star with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 4.32. As of 2017, the two visible components had an angular separation of 7.851″ along a position angle of 106°. The system has the Bayer designation k Centauri; 3 Centauri is the Flamsteed designation. It was a suspected eclipsing binary with a variable star designation V983 Centauri, however the AAVSO website lists it as non-variable, formerly suspected to be variable.
4 Centauri is a star in the constellation Centaurus. It is a blue-white B-type subgiant with an apparent magnitude of +4.75 and is approximately 640 light years from Earth.
HD 191104 is a star system in the equatorial constellation of Aquila. Two of the components form a close spectroscopic binary system, while a third star, also thought to be a spectroscopic binary, orbits the pair at a greater distance.
HD 131473 is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Boötes. The primary is an F-type subgiant with a stellar classification of F4IV, while its companion is a G-type subgiant with a stellar classification of G1IV.
2 Camelopardalis is a triple star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Camelopardalis, next to the southern constellation border with Perseus. It is dimly visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.36. The system is located at a distance of about 213 light-years from the Sun, based on its parallax. It is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +20 km/s.
88 Tauri, also known as d Tauri, is a multiple star system in the constellation Taurus. It has an apparent magnitude of about 4.25, meaning that it is visible to the naked eye. Based upon parallax measurements made by the Hipparcos spacecraft, the star system is some 156 light-years from the Sun.
V1054 Ophiuchi, together with the star Gliese 643, is a nearby quintuple star system. In the constellation Ophiuchus at a distance of 21.19 light-years. It consists of five stars, all of which are red dwarfs. The alternative designation of Wolf 630 forms the namesake of a moving group of stars that share a similar motion through space.
HD 120987 is a star system located in the constellation Centaurus. HD 120987 is a quintuple star system located 50 pc from the Sun. The system has an apparent magnitude of 5.565. Based on the system's parallax, it is located some 172 light-years away.
ζ Coronae Borealis, Latinised as Zeta Coronae Borealis, is the Bayer designation of a double star in the constellation Corona Borealis. The two components are separated by six arc-seconds and share the same Hipparcos catalogue number and Flamsteed designation. Each of the two is also a spectroscopic multiple system, with a total of five stars in the group.
Kappa Fornacis is a star system that lies approximately 72 light-years away. The system consists of a somewhat evolved primary orbited by a massive, 'dark' secondary that is actually itself a close red dwarf binary, making a hierarchal triple system.
HD 41742 and HD 41700 is a star system that lies approximately 88 light-years away in the constellation of Puppis. The system consists of two bright stars where the primary is orbited by two fainter stars, making it a quadruple with an unequal hierarchy.
34 Pegasi is a triple star system in the northern constellation of Pegasus. It has a yellow-white hue and is dimly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.76. The system is located at a distance of 131 light years from the Sun based on parallax, but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −13.5 km/s. It has been catalogued as a member of the Hyades Supercluster, although its membership status remains doubtful.
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