Mizar is a star system located in the constellation Ursa Major, known for being part of the Big Dipper's handle. It is one of the first binary stars discovered through telescopic observation.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Mizar is a multiple star system consisting of at least four stars.
It was historically significant as the first binary star to be identified using a telescope.
Mizar and its companion star Alcor can be seen with the naked eye, appearing as a double star.
Each component of Mizar itself is a spectroscopic binary, making it a quadruple system.
The combined light from Mizar and Alcor was used to test early astronomical photometers.
A star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass.
Spectroscopic Binary: A binary star system in which two stars are too close to be distinguished visually but can be identified through their spectral lines.