<p>I have been reading up on how multiplicity of star systems decline with star mass, which implies a relatively common occurrence of binary star systems orbiting more massive stars. I would imagine this would also mean the orbital plane of such multi-star systems aligning with the orbital plane of the system and the star it orbits as time passes, which I believe is in line with how disc accretion is such a common pattern.</p>

<p>What I am wondering is how such a realignment would affect behavior of the orbit of a hypothetical binary system? Would the stars get closer to the barycenter or further as this realignment occurs? How about periodicity or heat?</p>

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2019-07-29T23:30:26.737Z
very cool question!!
uhoh
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2019-07-30T14:54:12.050Z
There are different regimes with different stability modes.  You probably can't find 3 stars with the mass ratio of  Sun-Earth-Moon, for example, but it might be possible to find a system with a semi-stable Lagrange point or two.
Carl Witthoft
<orbital-mechanics>
How does the orbit of a 2-body system evolve as it orbits a more massive 3rd body?
Layman
# How does the orbit of a 2-body system evolve as it orbits a more massive 3rd body?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-29)

I have been reading up on how multiplicity of star systems decline with star mass, which implies a relatively common occurrence of binary star systems orbiting more massive stars. I would imagine this would also mean the orbital plane of such multi-star systems aligning with the orbital plane of the system and the star it orbits as time passes, which I believe is in line with how disc accretion is such a common pattern.

What I am wondering is how such a realignment would affect behavior of the orbit of a hypothetical binary system? Would the stars get closer to the barycenter or further as this realignment occurs? How about periodicity or heat?

**Tags:** orbital-mechanics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: very cool question!!  
> **username_2**: There are different regimes with different stability modes.  You probably can't find 3 stars with the mass ratio of  Sun-Earth-Moon, for example, but it might be possible to find a system with a semi-stable Lagrange point or two.  

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## 0 answers

