What is the difference between an optical double star and a visual binary star?
A) There is no difference: They are two names for the same thing.
B) Optical double stars can be seen as separate stars only through a telescope,whereas visual binaries can be seen with the unaided eye (e.g. ,the star Mizar in the Big Dipper's handle).
C) The stars in an optical double star are actually orbiting each other,whereas a visual binary is an illusion: The stars are at vast distances from each other and are not actually orbiting each other.
D) An optical double is an illusion: The stars are at vast distances from each other and are not actually orbiting each other,whereas in a visual binary,the stars are actually orbiting each other.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An optical double star is a pair of stars that appear close to each other in the sky but are not gravitationally bound and are at significantly different distances from Earth. A visual binary star, on the other hand, consists of two stars that are gravitationally bound and orbit each other.

What Is the Difference Between an Optical Double Star and a Visual