THE BINARY SYSTEM PLANETS*2026

Ajouté : 2026-05-26

[00:00:20][music] [music] >> The binary planets in astronomy, binary systems are special systems where two celestial bodies with similar masses orbit each other and their common [music] center of mass lies outside both bodies.

[00:00:47]This structure distinguishes them from classical satellite systems.

[00:00:52]Characteristics of binary [music] planets. Common center of mass. In classical systems for example, Earth and Moon, the center is inside the planet with a much larger mass.

[00:01:05]In binary systems, [music] however, this invisible center is in space.

[00:01:10]Mass ratio. The masses of the two bodies are very close.

[00:01:15]Usually, the mass of the smaller body is at least 12 to 25% of the mass of the larger one.

[00:01:23]Orbital dynamics. Binary planets [music] dance together in orbit.

[00:01:32]There is no official binary planet [music] classification approved by the International Astronomical Union IAU that perfectly [music] fits this definition in the solar system.

[00:01:44]However, there are structures that [music] scientists have nominated for this category. Pluto and Charon.

[00:01:50]This is the best known example of a binary system.

[00:01:54]Charon is about 1/8 the mass of Pluto and their common center of mass is outside Pluto's surface.

[00:02:02]Since both are in the dwarf planet class, they are often referred to as a binary dwarf planet.

[00:02:08]Earth and the moon. The moon is about 1.2% of Earth's mass.

[00:02:14]Because this ratio is quite low, their common center [music] of mass remains inside Earth.

[00:02:20]Therefore, they are not [music] technically considered a binary planet, however. Since the moon is a relatively large satellite compared to [music] our planet, they are often considered a planet-satellite pair.

[00:02:33]We now have a perfect binary system within our solar system.

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