Astrophysics (Index)About

contact binary

(binary stars orbiting so close they are touching)

A contact binary is a binary star in which the companions' orbit is so small (compared to the size of the companions) that they are in contact. Those that are identified are generally eclipsing binaries, termed W Ursae Majoris variables or W Ursae Majoris contact systems, also a type of variable star.

A binary star that is not a contact binary is a detached binary (wholly separate) or semidetached binary (where one of the two is highly affected, specifically, just one of the two has filled its Roche lobe). Binaries that are not fully detached are additionally termed close binaries or interacting binaries.


(star type,binary stars)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contact_binary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_star#Configuration_of_the_system
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095634467
https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/B/binarystar.html
http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~helenj/LS/LSx-binaries.pdf
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020RAA....20..163Q/abstract

Referenced by pages:
binary star
black hole merger
eclipsing binary (E)
evolutionary track
multiple star system
tomography
variable star

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