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multiple star
noun
, Astronomy.
- three or more stars lying close together in the celestial sphere and usually united in a single gravitational system.
multiple star
multiple star
- A system of three or more stars that are bound together by gravity and orbit a common center of mass. The group generally appears as a single star to the naked eye. Astronomers believe that most stars in the universe are part of multiple or binary systems. Alpha Centauri, the closest star to our Sun, is a multiple star system containing three bodies.
- See also binary star
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Word History and Origins
Origin of multiple star1
First recorded in 1840–50
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Example Sentences
When several stars appear in close proximity to each other, they are spoken of, collectively, as a multiple star.
From Project Gutenberg
An actual multiple star in the constellation Polaris will serve as an example.
From Project Gutenberg
It is well seen, however, as a fine multiple star with a smaller aperture.
From Project Gutenberg
So θ Orionis, or the Trapezium of Orion, is a multiple star, probably lying in the midst of the nebula.
From Project Gutenberg
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