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Line 1: In [[astronomy]], the '''binary mass function''' or simply '''mass function''' is a [[Function (mathematics)\|function]] that constrains the [[mass]] of the unseen component (typically a [[star]] or [[exoplanet]]) in a single-lined spectroscopic [[binary star]] or [[planetary system]]. It can be calculated from [[Observation\|observable]] quantities only, namely the [[orbital period]] of the binary system, and the peak [[radial velocity]] of the observed star. The velocity of one binary component and the orbital period provide (limited) information on the separation and gravitational attraction between the two components, and hence on the masses of the components. == Introduction ==

Binary mass function: Difference between revisions