Eclipsing Binary Star Light Curve
13.14 - Understand the light curves of the following variable stars:b) eclipsing binary
13.15 - Understand the causes of variability in the light curve of eclipsing binary stars
13.18 - Understand how the period of an eclipsing binary star can be deduced from its light curve
Eclipsing binaries are a pair of stars that orbit each other. One will move in front and behind the other as seen from Earth.
Frequently one star is brighter than another and we can see the stars wink and dip as the darker star moves in front and behind it.
By charting the brightness of a binary star you can find its period. In the chart on the right the period would be from the 'dips' at 24 and 64 leading to a period of 30 hours.
Questions
How could an astronomer measure the period of an eclipsing binary star?
Did you know?
A well known eclipsing binary star is Algol in Perseus.
Links
Imagine the Universe Light curves