AstroPioneer

In this article we will cover how to observe an eclipsing binary star. An eclipsing binary is where a dimmer star in a multiple star system passes in front of its brighter counterpart one of the easiest ways to observe this is to find the star Algol which is a triple star system but consists of one main bright star and another dimmer star that passes in front of it from our perspective. This dimming occurs every two days forty hours and forty-eight point eight minutes the change in magnitude can be from +2 to +3.3 and with magnitude the larger the number the dimmer it is. Click to enlarge the Algol star chart To find Algol you must first find the Perseus constellation. To do this find the bright constellation Cassiopeia, near the M103 cluster . Then draw an imagine line down from Gamma Cassiopeia down to the star Ruchbah once you are in the Perseus constellation follow the stars down through the Perseus constellation one by one until you reach the star Algol. The best time of yea...