Binary Systems Collection

The bright star Rigel eclipsed by a moon of a hypothetical planet
Rigel is one of the two brightest stars in the constellation Orion. It is a blue-white giant star. We see it here eclipsed by a moon of a hypothetical planet

A Grey Alien from the Zeta Reticuli binary star system

A debris disk around an unusual class of interacting binary stars
This artist concept shows a debris disk that has been observed around an unusual class of interacting binary stars. The type of cataclysmic variable system being studied consists of a highly magnetic

Nebulosity in Cassiopeia showing NGC 7822 and IC 1805
Nebulosity in Cassiopeia showing NGC 7822 (above center), and IC 1805 (at left)

Artists depiction of a binary star system with a close orbiting planet
An artists depiction of a binary star system with a close orbiting planet

Messier 53, globular cluster in the Coma Berenices constellation
NGC 5921 Spiral Galaxy taken with clear red green blue filter set

A red giant star orbiting a black hole, which is drawing in matter from the star

Nebulosity in the constellations Cassiopeia and Cepheus showing IC 1396 (at right), and IC 1805 (at left)

Our sun and the star Sirius compared to a red giant
Our Sun and the star Sirius compared to a red giant

An artists illustration of the Cygnus X-1 system. Cygnus X-1 is a so-called stellar-mass black hole, a class of black holes that comes from the collapse of a massive star

Exoplanet Discovery Technique Diagram
Diagram illustrating how extrasolar planets can be discovered by the dimming of a stars light as the planet passes in front of it

Artists concept of a binary star system
This binary star system is known to harbor a few select planets; watching curiously from afar at their bright parent suns

Eclipsing Binary Diagram. Otherwise invisible planets can be discovered by observing the drop in illumination from their star as they pass in front of it

Artists concept of Pluto and its moon Charon
This rendering suggests how Pluto, on the right, might appear from a position high above its equator. Beyond Pluto and to the left is Plutos largest satellite Charon

Artists concept showing the binary star system of Sirius A and Sirius B
This picture is an artists impression showing how the binary star system of Sirius A and its diminutive blue companion, Sirius B, might appear to an interstellar visitor

A faraway solar system where planets and asteroids circle around two suns
This artists illustration depicts a faraway solar system like our own, except for one big difference. Planets and asteroids circle around not one, but two suns

A binary star system
A binary star is a system where two stars orbit a common center of mass and sometimes can engulf their neighbor

Kepler-16b orbits a pair of stars in this retro space poster
Kepler-16b orbits a pair of stars. Depicted here as a terrestrial planet, Kepler-16b might also be a gas giant like Saturn

A double star system as seen from a circling planet
A double star system, one star is devouring the other as seen from a circling planet

Widefield view of the constellation Cassiopeia with nearby deep sky objects
Widefield view of the constellation Cassiopeia showing many deep sky objects, including open clusters and nebulae

A tight pair of stars and a surrounding disk of dust
This artists concept illustrates a tight pair of stars and a surrounding disk of dust, most likely the shattered remains of planetary smashups

A protoplanetary disk around a pair of red dwarf stars
A 25-million-year-old protoplanetary disk around a pair of red dwarf stars 350 light-years away. Gravitational stirring by the binary star system (shown in this artists conception)

Conceptual image of binary star systems that are found throughout our galaxy

Westerlund 2 (Gum 29) star cluster in Carina

One denser star using its gravity to engulf another nearby star
The act of one denser star using its gravity to engulf another nearby star is called stellar cannibalism

The accretion disk around the binary star system WZ Sge
An artists concept of the accretion disk around the binary star system WZ Sge using data from Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope

The extrasolar planet HD 209458 b passing in front of its star

Illustration of a bright star called Epsilon Aurigae
Astronomers using the Spitzer Space telescope have found a likely solution to a centuries-old riddle of the night sky. Every 27 years

Illustration of two stars that have moved so close that each becomes tidally warped
This is an artists interpretation (inspired by an earlier Chesley Bonestell painting which appeared in Beyond The Solar System)

Artists concept illustrating Kepler-16b, the first directly detected circumbinary planet, which is a planet that orbits two stars

Artists concept of Cygnus X-1, a luminous x-ray source in the constellation Cygnus
In 1964 a luminous x-ray source in the sky caught the attention of astronomers. This source contained the first black hole discovered

Two large stars dance around each other as one engulfs the other

Artists concept of the atmosphere on Pluto
Despite its small size and extreme distance from the Sun, Pluto does have an atmosphere. The atmosphere arises because there are periods when Pluto is closer to the Sun than Neptune

Two stars locked into a tight orbit around each other
Two stars are locked into a tight orbit around each other which are doomed to eventually join each other into one bright star

A gas-giant planet orbiting very close to its parent star
An artists conception shows a gas-giant planet orbiting very close to its parent star, creating searingly hot conditions on the planets surface

A sunset on a forested moon which orbits a heavily populated planet
Artists concept of a sunset on a forested moon which orbits a heavily populated planet. Both the planet and moon orbit around a binary system, consisting of a G class star and a neutron star

Artists concept of the Earth, Pluto, Charon, and Earths moon to scale (from left to right). Pluto has a diameter that is less than a fifth of the Earths and is smaller than Earths moon

A flying saucer flying through a binary star system

Zeta Piscium is a binary star system consisting of a red giant and a white dwarf. The latter is drawing in material from its companion

A comparison of several different solar systems

View of a distant gas giant in a binary solar system
View of a distant gas giant, surrounded by its four moons, in a binary solar system, with a nebula in the background

Jets of material shooting out from the neutron star in a binary system
This artist concept illustrates jets of material shooting out from the neutron star in the binary system 4U 0614+091. Astronomers using the Spitzer Space Telescope found these remarkable jets

An eclipsing binary star known as Algol, or Beta Persei
Algol (Beta Persei) is an eclipsing binary. Algol means The Ghoul in Arabic, and refers to its regular brightening and dimming

Spiral galaxies NGC 1068 and NGC 1055 located in the constellation Cetus
Messier 77 (NGC 1068), and NGC 1055 are both spiral galaxies located in the constellation Cetus. It is a binary system toether with the bright spiral galaxy M77

A compact object, or a black hole, is seen ripping off gas from its sun-like companion that has filled its Roche Lobe. Gas from the star (called the donor)

Artists concept of Pluto. In 1985 it was discovered that Pluto has an atmosphere, albeit a very tenuous one. Plutos atmosphere arises only when it approaches closer to the Sun during its highly

Artists concept of the Kepler-16 system, showing the binary star being orbited by Kepler-16b. Kepler-16 orbits a slowly rotating K-dwarf that is very active with numerous star spots

This planet is home to the capital of Asellus Secundus. Giant cities light the planet on the night side

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"Exploring the Wonders of Binary Systems: From Eclipses to Exoplanets" The bright star Rigel eclipsed by a moon of a hypothetical planet. Unveiling the mysteries of Grey Aliens from the Zeta Reticuli binary star system. A debris disk around an unusual class of interacting binary stars, hinting at celestial chaos. Nebulosity in Cassiopeia showcasing NGC 7822 and IC 1805, painting cosmic artistry across the sky. An artist's depiction reveals a mesmerizing dance between two stars and their close orbiting planet. Messier 53, a captivating globular cluster residing in the Coma Berenices constellation. Witnessing a red giant star gracefully orbiting a black hole, defying gravitational forces with elegance. Nebulosity in constellations Cassiopeia and Cepheus unveils ethereal beauty amidst stellar realms. Comparing our sun and Sirius to a red giant, highlighting both similarities and vast differences in size and luminosity. An artist's illustration captures the enigmatic Cygnus X-1 system, shrouded in cosmic intrigue. Exploring exoplanets through innovative discovery techniques - unlocking distant worlds beyond our solar system's reach An artist's concept beautifully portrays the intricate dynamics within a binary star system - where two stars share an eternal embrace. Embark on this celestial journey as we delve into fascinating phenomena found within binary systems - from breathtaking eclipses to extraterrestrial possibilities.