BINARY STARS
To calculate the masses of stars in a binary system, we must measure their orbital characteristics.
Binary stars are two stars that are gravitationally bound to each other and orbit around a common center of mass.
The masses of the two stars in a binary system can be calculated by measuring their orbital characteristics, such as their orbital period (the time it takes for the stars to orbit each other), their orbital radius (the distance between the stars at their closest approach), and their orbital eccentricity (a measure of the deviation of the orbit from a perfect circle). By analyzing these characteristics, astronomers can use the laws of gravity to calculate the masses of the stars in the system.
Other techniques for measuring the masses of stars include observing the spectra of the stars (which can reveal their surface gravity and temperature), observing the motion of the stars (which can reveal their mass through their acceleration), and observing the stars' interaction with other objects (such as planets or disks of dust and gas).
