---
license: cc-by-4.0
pretty_name: "Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog"
language:
  - en
description: "Kepler mission eclipsing binary catalog. Sourced via VizieR CDS Strasbourg."
task_categories:
  - tabular-classification
tags:
  - space
  - kepler
  - eclipsing-binary
  - binary-star
  - astronomy
  - open-data
size_categories:
  - 1K<n<10K
---

# Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog

Catalog of **2,177** eclipsing binary systems identified by the Kepler mission,
with orbital periods, morphology parameters, and stellar properties.

## Dataset description

Eclipsing binaries are pairs of stars whose orbital plane is aligned with our line of
sight, producing periodic dips in brightness as one star passes in front of the other.
The Kepler mission's exquisite photometric precision made it ideal for detecting and
characterizing these systems. This catalog from Slawson et al. (2011) provides the
definitive Kepler eclipsing binary list with orbital periods, eclipse morphology
parameters, and derived stellar properties.

## Quick stats

- **2,177** eclipsing binaries
- **2,177** with measured orbital periods
- **2,022** with effective temperature estimates
- Median orbital period: **1.851** days

## Usage

```python
from datasets import load_dataset

ds = load_dataset("juliensimon/kepler-eclipsing-binaries", split="train")
df = ds.to_pandas()

# Short-period binaries (< 1 day)
if "period_days" in df.columns:
    short = df[df["period_days"] < 1.0]
    print(f"{len(short):,} short-period binaries")

# Period distribution
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
if "period_days" in df.columns:
    df["period_days"].dropna().hist(bins=100, log=True)
    plt.xlabel("Orbital Period (days)")
    plt.ylabel("Count")
    plt.title("Kepler EB Period Distribution")
```

## Data source

Slawson, R.W. et al. (2011), "Kepler Eclipsing Binary Stars. II. 2165 Eclipsing
Binaries in the Second Data Release", AJ, 142, 160. Accessed via
[VizieR](https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/), CDS Strasbourg.

## Pipeline

Source code: [juliensimon/space-datasets](https://github.com/juliensimon/space-datasets)

## License

[CC-BY-4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)