Which important property of stars can be best determined by observations of binary stars systems?
A) stellar mass
B) surface temperature
C) distance from Earth
D) pulsation period

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Observations of binary star systems allow astronomers to measure the gravitational interactions between the stars, which in turn allows for the determination of their masses. This is one of the few direct ways to determine stellar mass, as other methods rely on models and assumptions. Binary systems with known masses have been particularly useful in defining the mass-luminosity relationship, which is a fundamental property of stars.

Which Important Property of Stars Can Be Best Determined by Observations