Star system

A star system or stellar system is a group of stars (and possibly smaller bodies such as planets or asteroids) that orbit one another. Although this is similar to the definition of a star cluster, the term is generally used to describe a group of a small number of stars, often two or three, emphasizing the gravitational influence they have upon one another.

Table of contents

1 Binary star systems
2 Multiple star systems
3 Examples
4 See also

Binary star systems

A star system of two stars is known as a binary star. Such star systems are stable in the absence of influence from external forces; see Two-body problem.

Multiple star systems

A star system with three stars is a known as a triple star. Star systems with three or more stars may be unstable, possibly resulting in the ejection of one or more stars.

Scientists have found modeling such star systems more difficult than binary star systems due to their chaotic nature.

Examples

Well known star systems include:

Alcyone (star) (four stars)

Alpha Centauri (three stars)
Castor (six stars)
Mizar (six stars)
Sirius (two stars)