The Cosmic Romance of Binary Stars: How Are They Formed?

[Newtons Apple]

Does anyone else find it cosmically romantic the significance of binary stars? The fact that they orbit a common area, looping around each other is stuff that poems, are made of.. Anyway, I'm a hopeless romantic, but I love the idea, its just really beautiful if you think about it..Any how, does anyone know how these systems are formed? Have most always been a pair, or do they slowly drift until they find each other?

 

[balaonspace]

stars are formed by gases compressing to a critical density and igniting a fusion reaction. binary stars are formed when a large volume of gas partitions during compression into two different stars, they end up as binaries to conserve angular momentum. or drifting stars that are influenced by each others gravitational field can also end up as binary system to conserve angular momentum.
in cases where one star is much bigger than the other, the big/primary usually burns its fuel faster, ends up as a white dwarf, accretes material from the binary companion, reaches critical mass and explodes while synthesising heavier elements.
if you are a good poet you can turn simple ideas into complex, convoluted, romantic verses :)

 

[Nabeshin]

It's worth noting that MOST stars are in multiple-star systems, dominated by binaries. As the above discusses, they form in the same stellar nursery and are gravitationally bound to each other from their conception. By contrast, while it is possible for two single stars to come together to form a gravitationally bound binary system, such an interaction is exceedingly rare. What would happen almost 100% of the time is the bodies would simply scatter off each other and fly away in different directions.

 

[Dotini]

Does anyone else find it cosmically romantic the significance of binary stars? The fact that they orbit a common area, looping around each other is stuff that poems, are made of.. Anyway, I'm a hopeless romantic, but I love the idea, its just really beautiful if you think about it..Any how, does anyone know how these systems are formed? Have most always been a pair, or do they slowly drift until they find each other?

Could you form a romantic idea about a globular cluster, please?

Respectfully submitted,
Steve

 

[Chronos]

The birthing of multiple star systems is still being debated. The two leading contenders are fission and fragmentation, although computer simulations are not entirely successful at replicating either. As Nabeshin noted, gravitational capture is not a contender, save in the case of globular clusters where tidal captures are more common [albeit still rare] than in less densely populated regions [re: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2003/03-130.html] .

 

[Drakkith]

You've got a bracket on the end of that link Chronos, making it not work.
Correct link is here: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2003/03-130.html

 

[Bobbywhy]

Mother Sun and Father Gravity

Hydrogen atoms drifting in space Father Gravity captivated
Atoms in the vicinity felt His attraction and were accelerated
Each atom joined a brother, proving the Laws of Nature cooperated
For thousands of centuries a huge cloud of hydrogen gas accumulated
Containing more atoms than anyone had ever contemplated

During untold billions of years Hydrogen molecules congregated
Drifting in the cosmos, the massive gas cloud was created
Into a hot dense core the molecules concentrated
To become a protostar they were fated
Because Father Gravity’s intense hug never abated

Pressure and temperature rose so high the atoms incinerated
In the process a tiny fraction of their mass annihilated
Energy, proving Prophet Albert correct, was liberated
Electromagnetic energy was immediately radiated
Out into space at the speed of light photons propagated

After a meal a Primitive Man and His Family luxuriated
Their gardens and orchards Mother Sun illuminated
Mother Sun and Father Gravity the Family appreciated
The gift of Life-giving Light they celebrated
And Mother Sun and Father Gravity they venerated

Bobbywhy, September, 1998. Alexandria, Egypt

 

[TheTechNoir]

Wow that is beautiful... It accurately describes the birth of a star and it's progression to a main sequence star (poetically of course) without feeling the slightest bit forced at any time. Not an easy task!