eclipsing variable star

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illustration depicting the light curve of Algol

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Science & Tech

eclipsing variable star

astronomy

Also known as: eclipsing binary star

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Category: Science & Tech

Key People:: Henry Norris Russell

Related Topics:: eclipse; binary star

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eclipsing variable star, pair of stars revolving about their common centre of mass in an orbit whose plane passes through or very near the Earth. An observer on the Earth thus sees one member of the binary pass periodically over the face of the other and diminish its light through an eclipse. The star Algol was the first suggested as an eclipsing binary, by John Goodricke, in 1782. Thousands are now known. By combining measurements of the brightness variations with spectroscopic information for both stars of the pair, astronomers can determine the mass and size of each star. See also variable star; binary star.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.