It is also the member of a binary star system
with an orbital period of about 50 years.
Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.
It is also the member of a binary star system
with an orbital period of about 50 years.
Its companion is a white dwarf, not visible to the naked eye.
The wobble of Sirius caused by its orbital motion was noticed as early as 1834 by Bessel who thus suspected that it was in a binary with a period of about 50 years. The faint companion was actually discovered by Alvan Clark in 1862.
|
|
|
|
| [back to the topics page] | [back to astro 201 home page] | [back to astro FAQ home page] | [back to current A201 FAQ home page] |