The Sky Tonight

April 22, 2014

Upside-down planet reveals new method for studying binary star systems
Seattle WA (SPX) Apr 23, 2014
What looked at first like a sort of upside-down planet has instead revealed a new method for studying binary star systems, discovered by a University of Washington student astronomer. Working with UW astronomer Eric Agol, doctoral student Ethan Kruse has confirmed the first "self-lensing" binary star system - one in which the mass of the closer star can be measured by how powerfully it magnifies light from its more distant companion star. Though our sun stands alone, about 40 percent of similar st ... read more

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