pimennysbinäärejä

Pimennysbinäärejä, known in English as dimming binaries, are a type of binary star system where the light from one star is periodically obscured by the passage of its companion in front of it. This obscuration causes a noticeable dip in the overall brightness of the system as observed from Earth. The phenomenon is similar to an eclipse, hence the name "eclipsing binary."

The periodicity of these brightness variations is directly related to the orbital period of the two stars around their common center of mass. By observing the light curve, which is a graph of brightness over time, astronomers can determine crucial information about the binary system. This includes the orbital period, the relative sizes of the stars, their temperatures, and even their masses.

There are several subtypes of pimennysbinäärejä, classified based on the shape of their light curves and the nature of the obscuration. Some systems show a sharp, V-shaped dip, indicating a transit where one star passes in front of the other. Others exhibit a more U-shaped dip, suggesting a mutual eclipse where both stars contribute to the dimming. The study of pimennysbinäärejä is fundamental to stellar astrophysics, providing direct observational data that helps refine models of stellar evolution and structure. They are also valuable for determining distances to celestial objects and for detecting exoplanets, as a planet transiting its star can create a similar dip in brightness.