overcontact binaryA close binary in which both stars have exceeded their Roche lobes, so that the system consists of a common, dumbbell-shaped envelope surrounding two stellar cores. Overcontact binaries are also often eclipsing binaries of the W Ursae Majoris star type. Related categories• TYPES OF STARS STELLAR ASTROPHYSICS Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History |