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An eclipsing binary is a binary system where the orbital plain is close enough to the line of sight of an observer that the individual stars will [[eclipse]] each other.
An eclipsing binary is a binary system where the orbital plain is close enough to the line of sight of an observer that the individual stars will [[eclipse]] each other.
Eclipsing binaries are also classified as [[variable stars]], stars that have regular and periodic changes in the apparent magnitude. This variation in brightness may be from a pair of binary stars as one passes in front of the other as seen from the point of the observer. If the two stars are of different sizes, the larger star will block the other through a total eclipse, while the smaller star will partially dim the large one via an annular eclipse. This change in brightness over regular periods of time is known as the ''light curve''.<ref>http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/ebstar/ebstar.html</ref>
Eclipsing binaries are also classified as [[variable star]]s, stars that have regular and periodic changes in the apparent magnitude. This variation in brightness may be from a pair of binary stars as one passes in front of the other as seen from the point of the observer. If the two stars are of different sizes, the larger star will block the other through a total eclipse, while the smaller star will partially dim the large one via an annular eclipse. This change in brightness over regular periods of time is known as the ''light curve''.<ref>http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/ebstar/ebstar.html</ref>
The first observed eclipsing binary discovered was the star system [[Algol]]. The star was known to periodically change in magnitude since ancient times, but in 1881, it was discovered this was due to the fact Algol was not one, but two stars in close orbit.
The first observed eclipsing binary discovered was the star system [[Algol]]. The star was known to periodically change in magnitude since ancient times, but in 1881, it was discovered this was due to the fact Algol was not one, but two stars in close orbit.