How do astronomers accurately calculate the mass of stars in binary systems?
Answer
By applying Kepler's laws to the orbital period and distance
Determining stellar mass is a complex task for isolated stars, but binary systems provide a reliable method to achieve this. Astronomers observe the orbital period and the distance between the two components within the system. By using these observed values in conjunction with Kepler's laws of planetary motion, scientists can calculate the mass of the individual stars with high precision.
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