What is a trinary star system?

1 Answer
George C.
Jan 8, 2016

A group of #3# stars held together by gravity.

Explanation:

I knew what the word 'trinary' meant, but experienced some distaste. I am used to the more respectable older word 'ternary' of which 'trinary' is a synonym.

They are both "acceptable" words nowadays.

Our nearest neighbouring star system may be a ternary/trinary star system, but the orbital period of Proxima Centauri (a.k.a. Alpha Centauri C) about Alpha Centauri A & B is estimated to be about #500,000# years.

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