|
|
|
|
How X-rays can be used to find the diameters of
certain binary stars
In binary star systems, two stars orbit each other. Some of these systems
when viewed from Earth exhibit eclipses, as one star passes in front of
our
line of sight to the other. If we know the orbital velocity and can
measure the time the orbiting star spends in front of (or behind) the
central star (as is the case in an X-ray binary), we can easily calculate
the distance traveled by the secondary as it crosses the diameter of the
central star. HT Cas is such a system.
|
|
