eclipsing binary

An eclipsing binary is a system of two stars that orbit each other in such a way that, from our viewpoint on Earth, one star periodically passes in front of the other. This alignment causes the combined brightness of the system to decrease temporarily, creating an observable "eclipse." Astronomers study these events to learn about the stars' sizes, masses, and distances, as the changes in brightness provide valuable information about their characteristics. Eclipsing binaries are important for understanding stellar evolution and the dynamics of star systems.