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Eclipsing Binaries
Just a question I was pondering this morning while listening to "Astronomy 162" podcasts and learning about measuring the mass of stars.
Astronomers use the "dip" in star light from an eclipsing binary to be able to accurately measure the mass of the star.. they see the cyclical pattern of increasing and dipping star light as the companion star passes in front of or behind the other star.
So the questions:
1. Using this method, how can they tell the difference between an eclipsing binary or a variable star?
2. I've also heard this method is used to find extra-solar planets - how can they tell whether the dip in light is due to an extra-solar planet transiting or a small eclipsing binary star?
Appreciate your help.
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