Binary Stars: Dancing Pairs in Space

Binary stars are two stars bound by gravity, orbiting a shared center of mass.
They are more common than single stars—over half of all stars belong to binary or multiple systems.
Binary orbits can range from just a few hours to thousands of years.
Some binaries are so close they share outer layers, creating dramatic stellar interactions.
In eclipsing binaries, one star passes in front of the other, causing dips in brightness.
Astronomers use binary systems to measure stellar masses with great accuracy.
When a white dwarf siphons matter from a companion, it can trigger a supernova.
Binary stars come in wide, close, and contact pairs, depending on their separation.
Famous examples include Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, which has a faint white dwarf companion.
Studying binary stars helps scientists understand stellar evolution and the formation of exotic objects like black holes.