<p>This is a difficult question, It's been changing through the years and it's difficult to calculate accurately. Now it's know that this percentage changes depending on the star type and ranges from <strong>50% for Sun like stars</strong> up to a <strong>80% for type O stars</strong>.</p>

<p>Fonts:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.space.com/1995-astronomers-wrong-stars-single.html">http://www.space.com/1995-astronomers-wrong-stars-single.html</a> (2006)</p>

<p><a href="http://www.space.com/22509-binary-stars.html">http://www.space.com/22509-binary-stars.html</a> (2013)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-29T19:25:51.033Z
I think it's important to emphasize how approximate these numbers are. This question is frequently debated, and we simply don't have a good, solid answer.
Kyle Neary
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-30T20:57:20.863Z
Is this answer actually answering a different question: 'how many stars [in general/in the Milky Way] are binaries'? If the question is regarding visual stars ie naked eye objects then we can be much more definite...
Jeremy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-29T11:13:39.707Z
2014-05-29T18:47:41.303Z
2014-05-29T18:47:41.303Z
Joan.bdm
<p>I know this is such a thing as a binary star where for example two stars rotate around a central point of gravity but to the naked eye are just a star.  What I do not know is how common this is (approximately)?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-29T15:02:33.647Z
Point of clarification: "Double stars" refers to two stars that are visually very close together so they appear as one by the naked eye. But that doesn't necessarily mean they are binary stars. Do you have a preference?
Robert Cartaino
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-29T15:26:42.860Z
@RobertCartaino - i revised the question to be binary. cheers
esé
<binary-star>
What percentage of visual stars are actually binary stars?
esé
# What percentage of visual stars are actually binary stars?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-29)

I know this is such a thing as a binary star where for example two stars rotate around a central point of gravity but to the naked eye are just a star. What I do not know is how common this is (approximately)?

**Tags:** binary-star

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Point of clarification: "Double stars" refers to two stars that are visually very close together so they appear as one by the naked eye. But that doesn't necessarily mean they are binary stars. Do you have a preference?  
> **username_0**: @RobertCartaino - i revised the question to be binary. cheers  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-05-29. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

This is a difficult question, It's been changing through the years and it's difficult to calculate accurately. Now it's know that this percentage changes depending on the star type and ranges from **50% for Sun like stars** up to a **80% for type O stars**.

Fonts:

<http://www.space.com/1995-astronomers-wrong-stars-single.html> (2006)

<http://www.space.com/22509-binary-stars.html> (2013)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I think it's important to emphasize how approximate these numbers are. This question is frequently debated, and we simply don't have a good, solid answer.  
> **username_4**: Is this answer actually answering a different question: 'how many stars [in general/in the Milky Way] are binaries'? If the question is regarding visual stars ie naked eye objects then we can be much more definite...  

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