New Type of Binary Star System (E)
A team of astronomers has discovered a new type of binary star system that has never been seen before. This discovery will might answer unresolved questions related to the evolution of stars. The research team, led by Keivan Stasson, a member of the Evolutionary Studies Initiative and a professor of physics and astronomy at Stevenson University, created a new model in 2017 that significantly improved the way stars are measured. This model helps predict the types of planets orbiting distant stars – called exoplanets. Using the same model, the researchers spotted the new binary star system, which is actually two stars orbiting each other. Binary star systems are not uncommon in the universe, but an unusual feature of these stars is their orientation. When viewed from Earth, the stars eclipse each other. Another unique feature involves the presence of two rare types of stellar pulsating behaviour as one of the stars in the new binary system exhibits a hybrid of both. And on top of it, the unique star also has a strong magnetic field, which is decidedly uncommon for a hybrid pulsating star.
