Space · Video

Identifying Eclipsing Star Systems using Light Curves (SVS5290 - eclipsing binary light curves explainer 2160p60).webm

This data visualization presents a comprehensive view of four different hypothetical binary star systems, highlighting their stellar orbits and light curves. The top row offers a top-down perspective of each binary system, illustrating the stars (white spheres) and their elliptical orbits around each other. The middle row provides a side-on view of the same systems, offering a simulated perspective as if observed from Earth, assuming the systems' orbital planes are aligned similarly to the ecliptic plane of our Solar System. The bottom row displays the observed light curves for each system, graphically representing the cumulative brightness of the stars over time.

Author

NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - USRA/Kel Elkins, NASA/GSFC/Brian Powell

Attribution

Identifying Eclipsing Star Systems using Light Curves

License

Public domain

Source

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Identifying_Eclipsing_Star_Systems_using_Light_Curves_(SVS5290_-_eclipsing_binary_light_curves_explainer_2160p60).webm