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  1. In a binary star system, the semi-major axis is the separation between the two stars. If the two stars have different masses, then each will orbit the center of mass with a different orbital radius. The semi-major axis a is just the sum of these two radii.
    spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys370/lectures/eclipse_1/ecli…
    In all binary systems both stars move in elliptical orbits about the centre-of-mass (COM). The semi-major axis is one-half the long axis of the ellipse. A circle is a special case of an ellipse with semi-major axis equal to the circle's radius.
    sites.ualberta.ca/~pogosyan/teaching/ASTRO_122/…
    What is the semi-major axis of binary stars? The semi-major axis of binary stars is the average distance between the two stars in a binary star system. It is the longest axis of the elliptical orbit that the stars follow around their common center of mass.
    www.physicsforums.com/threads/the-semi-major-a…
    Measuring the semi-major axis of a binary star system allows astronomers to determine the total mass of the system using Newton's laws. The semi-major axis remains constant for a given elliptical orbit, while the distance between the two objects varies as they move around the orbit.
    library.fiveable.me/key-terms/intro-astronomy/semi …
     
  2. Lecture 13: Binary Star Systems, Masses of Stars - University of …

  3. Eclipsing binary stars I: HOW do they teach us?

    In a binary star system, the semi-major axis is the separation between the two stars. If the two stars have different masses, then each will orbit the center of mass with a different orbital radius. The semi-major axis a is just the sum of …

  4. Binary Stars - HyperPhysics

  5. Semi-major axis - (Astrophysics I) - Fiveable

  6. Semi-major axis and ellipticity of a binary system?