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blumfeld0
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Why do spectroscopic binaries have short periods? I figure it is because they have small separation and p^2=A^3
but why small separations?
thanks
but why small separations?
thanks
Kurdt said:You are right to think that they have a small separation and this gives them a short orbital period. When binary stars are separated by small distances and are too close to be distinguished as visula binaries spectroscopy can tell us if it is a binary system or not. So the reason spectroscopic binaries have small separations is that otherwise they'd be visual binaries.
blumfeld0 said:Why do spectroscopic binaries have short periods? I figure it is because they have small separation and p^2=A^3
but why small separations?
Spectroscopic binaries have short periods because they consist of two stars orbiting around each other very closely. This causes them to have a shorter orbital period compared to wider binary systems.
The short period of spectroscopic binaries makes it easier for astronomers to observe their orbital motions, which allows for more precise measurements of their masses and other physical properties.
Yes, the periods of spectroscopic binaries can change over time due to a phenomenon called orbital decay. This is caused by the transfer of mass and angular momentum between the two stars, which can cause their orbits to shrink or expand.
No, not all binary systems are classified as spectroscopic binaries. These systems are specifically identified by the presence of Doppler shifts in their spectra, which indicate the orbital motion of the stars. There are also visual binaries and eclipsing binaries, which have different observational characteristics.
Astronomers use spectroscopic binaries to study stars by measuring the Doppler shifts in their spectra, which can provide information about the masses, sizes, and other physical properties of the stars. Studying these systems also allows scientists to understand the dynamics of stellar evolution and binary interactions.