There are many common misconceptions about binary star systems, one of the most common myths is that binary star systems are the cosmic oddity and that single star systems are the most prevalent, when, in fact, the opposite is true. 50 years ago binary stars were considered a rarity. Now, most of the stars in our galaxy are known to be paired with a companion or multiple partners.

Just because we cannot see it does not mean it does not exist. We now know that many stars cannot be seen including blackholes, neutron stars and many brown dwarfs. Furthermore, long cycle binary systems (those with orbit periods of thousands or tens of thousands of years) may be quite difficult to detect because of the very long observation period required.

For nearby Sun-like stars, more than 55 percent are confirmed to be in double, triple, or quadruple relationships. Total estimates are higher, with NASA's Chandra website reporting that up to 80 percent of all stars are in multiple star relationships. Therefore, it should not be unexpected to discover that our sun might be part of a binary or multiple star system.