The difference between Binary star and Multiple star

When used as nouns, binary star means a stellar system in which two stars orbit around their center of mass, whereas multiple star means multiple stars which form a stellar system, such that they orbit the point of equilibrium of their gravitational fields.


check bellow for the other definitions of Binary star and Multiple star

  1. Binary star as a noun (astronomy):

    A stellar system in which two stars orbit around their center of mass; double star.

  1. Multiple star as a noun (star):

    Multiple stars which form a stellar system, such that they orbit the point of equilibrium of their gravitational fields; a multiple star system.

  2. Multiple star as a noun (star):

    Multiple stars that appear to be one when seen with the naked eye, either because they orbit one another (multiple star systems) or happen to be in the same line of sight even though they are separated by a great distance.