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wolram
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how can (contact binary stars) exist? why is it that one does not destroy the other? where is there center of gravity?
Originally posted by wolram
how can (contact binary stars) exist? why is it that one does not destroy the other? where is there center of gravity?
Originally posted by wolram
how can (contact binary stars) exist? why is it that one does not destroy the other? where is there center of gravity?
Originally posted by wolram
how can (contact binary stars) exist? why is it that one does not destroy the other? where is there center of gravity?
Originally posted by Labguy
Also, this "point of transfer" can only happen at the large star's L1, or inner Lagrangian point. This method of mass transfer occurs in many binary systems, but in common-usage terms, this still does not fit the description of contact binaries. In "contact binaries", both stars must have "atmospheres", which rules out any type of stellar remnant, or core, such as a white dwarf. Contact binaries are usually described as a situation where (a) the orbits are very close, therefore short period orbits and (b) where both stars have extended atmospheres beyond their Roche Lobes (limits), and material from both stars is intermixed.
You are right in both cases, the merging is rapid by, astronomical standards. And, the orbital speed (= angular momentum) is very high at this stage and keeps them from an immediate merge. Unless there happened to be an unusual case where the stars were "counter-rotating" on their rotational axis, the resulting "new" star would have a faster period of rotation than either of the original two stars. Your basic conservation of angular momentum.Originally posted by wolram
thanks for explanation LABGUY, MARCUS, its not clear to me what delays the merging process, i would have thought that once the two stars were captured in each others gravity wells the merging process would be very rapid, unless there orbital velocities are very high.
what effect does the merging have on the rotationan of the two suns?
at what point would there be a single magnetic field?
Originally posted by wolram
thanks for explanation LABGUY, MARCUS, its not clear to me what delays the merging process, i would have thought that once the two stars were captured in each others gravity wells the merging process would be very rapid, unless there orbital velocities are very high.
I don't know if "Cheers" is a compliment or an invitation to expand on the subject...(?)Originally posted by wolram
cheers LABGUY
Originally posted by wolram
and LABGUY i see very litle gratitude expresed for your time and
experiance in this forum but i for one thank you.
im not going to inflate members of this forums egos to
much, so i will say thankyou all, and leave it at that.
Contact binary stars are a type of binary star system in which two stars are so close to each other that they share a common envelope of material. They are also known as "contact binaries" or "overcontact binaries."
Contact binary stars are believed to form from two stars that were originally separate but became gravitationally bound to each other. Over time, the stars spiral closer and closer together until they are in contact, sharing a common envelope.
Contact binary stars are unique because they are the only type of binary stars that share a common envelope. This close proximity allows for interactions between the two stars, leading to observable phenomena such as mass transfer and orbital period changes.
Studying contact binary stars can provide valuable insights into stellar evolution, as well as the dynamics and behavior of binary star systems. They can also give us a better understanding of the physical processes that occur in close proximity between stars.
Scientists study contact binary stars using a variety of methods, including photometry, spectroscopy, and interferometry. These techniques allow us to measure the brightness, composition, and orbital parameters of the stars, providing valuable data for further research and analysis.