Contact binary

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This article is about contact binary stars. For asteroids, see Contact binary (asteroid).

In astronomy, a contact binary is a binary star system whose component stars are so close that they touch each other or have merged to share a common gaseous envelope. A binary system whose stars share an envelope may also be called an overcontact or common envelope binary.[1][2][3] Almost all known contact binary systems are eclipsing binaries;[4] eclipsing contact binaries are known as W Ursae Majoris variables, after their type star, W Ursae Majoris.[5]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ contact binary, David Darling, The Internet Encyclopedia of Science. Accessed on line November 4, 2007.
  2. ^ overcontact binary, David Darling, The Internet Encyclopedia of Science. Accessed on line November 4, 2007.
  3. ^ pp. 51–53, An Introduction to Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics, Michael J. Thompson, London: Imperial College Press, 2006. ISBN 1860946151.
  4. ^ p. 231, Stellar Rotation, Jean Louis Tassoul, Andrew King, Douglas Lin, Stephen P. Maran, Jim Pringle, and Martin Ward, Cambridge, UK, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000. ISBN 0521772184.
  5. ^ p. 19, Double and Multiple Stars and how to Observe Them, James Mullaney, New York, London: Springer, 2005. ISBN 1852337516.
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