Star A and Star B are a bound binary at a distance of 20 pc from the Earth. Their separation is 30 AU. Star A has a mass twice that of Star B. The orbital period of the binary is 100 years. Assume the stars orbit in circular orbits. a. What is the parallax of Star A, in units of arcsec? Assume parallax is measured from the Earth. For part a, ignore the presence of the binary companion. b. What is the angular separation we would observe between Star A and Star B, in units of arcsec? If we compare multiple images of this star system taken across different months and years, which source of motion will be the dominant effect? c. What is the total mass of the binary system (combined mass of Star A and Star B)? Provide your answer in both kg and solar masses. d. What is the distance from Star A to the center of mass of the binary system?

icon
Related questions
Question
Star A and Star B are a bound binary at a distance of 20 pc from the Earth. Their
separation is 30 AU. Star A has a mass twice that of Star B. The orbital period of the
binary is 100 years. Assume the stars orbit in circular orbits.
a. What is the parallax of Star A, in units of arcsec? Assume parallax is measured from
the Earth. For part a, ignore the presence of the binary companion.
b.
What is the angular separation we would observe between Star A and Star B, in
units of arcsec? If we compare multiple images of this star system taken across
different months and years, which source of motion will be the dominant effect?
What is the total mass of the binary system (combined mass of Star A and Star B)?
Provide your answer in both kg and solar masses.
c.
d. What is the distance from Star A to the center of mass of the binary system?
Transcribed Image Text:Star A and Star B are a bound binary at a distance of 20 pc from the Earth. Their separation is 30 AU. Star A has a mass twice that of Star B. The orbital period of the binary is 100 years. Assume the stars orbit in circular orbits. a. What is the parallax of Star A, in units of arcsec? Assume parallax is measured from the Earth. For part a, ignore the presence of the binary companion. b. What is the angular separation we would observe between Star A and Star B, in units of arcsec? If we compare multiple images of this star system taken across different months and years, which source of motion will be the dominant effect? What is the total mass of the binary system (combined mass of Star A and Star B)? Provide your answer in both kg and solar masses. c. d. What is the distance from Star A to the center of mass of the binary system?
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps with 3 images

Blurred answer