Algol
Algol, also known as the Demon Star, is a bright star in the Perseus constellation. It is one of the best known double stars that can only be seen in spectroscopes, the first star of its type discovered, and one of the first variable stars to be discovered before it explodes. Algol is made of three stars (Beta Persei A, B and C) and the brightest is Persei A. These stars partly eclipse each other every 2 days, 20 hours and 49 minutes for 10 hours.[1]
Algol Media
The Algol system on 12 August 2009. This is a CHARA interferometer image with 12-milliarcsecond resolution in the near-infrared H-band. The elongated appearance of Algol Aa2 (labelled B) and the round appearance of Algol Aa1 (labelled A) are real, but the form of Algol Ab (labelled C) is an artifact.
Light curve of the Algol recorded by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
Algol Aa2 orbits Algol Aa1. This animation was assembled from 55 images of the CHARA interferometer in the near-infrared H-band, sorted according to orbital phase. Because some phases are poorly covered, Aa2 jumps at some points along its path.
References
- ↑ Beta Persei, American Association of Variable Star Observers. http://www.aavso.org/vstar/vsots/0199.shtml Archived 2006-07-08 at the Wayback Machine