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Star System




A star system or ''' Stellar system''' is a System comprised of a Star or group of stars, with possibly Planetary System s of smaller bodies (such as Planet s or Asteroid s), in close Gravitational association. The Solar System is, properly, the star system comprised of our Sun and other bodies (like Earth ) in orbit around it.

A star system is generally different from a . A star system has a definitive Barycenter which the stars (and smaller objects) in the system orbit about, and well defined orbital behaviour that has some semblance of positional prediction over multiple orbits, unlike the quasi-orbits of stars in a cluster.


Binary star systems


A star system of two stars is known as a Binary Star . Such star systems are stable in the absence of influence from external forces; see Two-body Problem .


Multiple star systems


Triple star systems

A star system with three stars is known as a Triple Star or a Trinary Star System . Star systems with three or more stars may be unstable, possibly resulting in the ejection of one or more stars.

Scientists have found modeling such star systems more difficult than binary star systems due to their Chaotic nature. (See N-body Problem .)

Triple star systems generally have a close binary pair and a far orbiting companion.


Quadruple star systems

Quadruple star systems (also known as Quaternary Star Systems ) generally have two close binary pairs whose Barycenter s orbit a common system barycenter in distant orbits.


Examples

Well known star systems include:



See also