binary star
3
4.7
- noun
- /ˈbaɪnəri stɑr/
- Specialized
:
estrella binaria
- We are coordinating a network of telescopes around the globe that monitor eclipsing binary stars for evidence of planets.
- binary star system
- eclipsing binary stars
- binary stars in our galaxy
So in the sense that sometimes binary stars are far enough that they never interact.
- So in the sense that sometimes binary stars are far enough that they never interact.
Examples
-
Alpha Centauri, as it happens, is a binary star.
Academic text (1996) -
The pulsar B1257+12 was likely in a binary star system.
Academic text (1995) -
Are there binary stars that develop from the same disc?
-
In the study of star formation, how binary stars form is one of the largest unanswered questions.
Academic text (1991) -
Interesting eclipsing binary stars that are fairly bright and easy to study continue to be discovered.
Academic text (1999) -
The new discovery deals with a binary star called Kepler-47.
Blog text (17) -
The same holds true for binary stars in our galaxy, whose orbital periods are minutes, hours, and longer.
Academic text (2001) -
Binoculars and telescopes will also enable you to discover many other binary stars.
Academic text (1999) -
In his research, Bailyn studied several questions related to low-mass X-ray binary stars and their connection to the evolution of globular clusters.
Academic text (1990) -
Astronomers have discovered a binary star system where two stars orbit around a common center of mass.
Synonyms
3
6.6
Two stars that orbit each other
1
5.5
Two stars that are very close and usually move around each other
A system of two stars that orbit each other
How Big
- Specialized
525
4.1
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
6.9
- Specialized
3
4.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'binary' means composed of two and 'star' is a celestial star, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to two stars considered as a system. This is a literal, cross-linguistically transparent compound noun rather than an idiom, so its sense is immediately derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
The noun binary star comes from a simple picture: binary means 'two' and the two stars move around each other like partners. So, a binary star is 'two stars that orbit each other'.