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This is more complicated than it might seem. The short answer is "M, T, or Y, depending." The coolest type in the Harvard classification system is M; red or (in late M) brown dwarfs. Class M stars have temperatures below around 3700 K. In order to further distinguish between stars at the very low end of the temperature scale, a few new classes have been proposed. In this new classification scheme, stars between 1300-2000 K are assigned type L; stars below 1300 K are assigned type T. The main reason for choosing this particular temperature is that around 1300 K the spectrum of the star changes and they begin to show evidence of methane in their atmospheres, so type T stars are also called "methane dwarfs". Finally, a hypothetical type Y has been proposed for "ammonia dwarfs", stars which show ammonia absorption lines in their spectra. There is some dispute whether or not any type Y stars have actually been found or not. Type Y stars are expected to be cooler than 600 K or so.

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15y ago
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4mo ago

O, B, and A spectral class stars are less common than G, K, and M spectral class stars. These earlier spectral class stars are larger, hotter, and more massive, leading them to have shorter lifespans and therefore be less abundant in the galaxy.

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O class stars (Zeta Orionis) are the least common accounting for less than about 0.00003% of all main sequence stars.

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Q: What spectral class of stars are less common?
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What type of star is Delta Geminorum?

Delta Geminorum (Wasat) is a ternary system (i.e it consists of three stars). The visible part is a spectroscopic binary consisting of two stars of spectral type approximately F1 with combined luminosity class IV-V, orbiting each other very closely. This is orbited by a smaller and less luminous companion of spectral class K3 V, at a distance of about 126 light-years, with a period of about 1200 years.


What are F class stars?

F class stars are main sequence stars that have a spectral classification of F and a surface temperature ranging from about 6,000 to 7,600 K. They are hotter and more massive than G class stars (like our Sun) but cooler and less massive than O and B class stars. F class stars typically appear white to yellow-white in color.


Most of the stars in the main sequence are to the lower right of the sun what can you conclude about the brightness of these stars and their temperatures?

Main Sequence stars can be any spectral class of star. Something that might help you in the future is when you look up a star and see its spectral class, its always followed by a roman numeral to define where the star is in its life and size and they go as follows. I-a= A hyper Giant Star I-b= A very bright Super Giant star I= A normal Super Giant star II= Bright Giant star III= Giant star IV= Sub Giant star V= Dwarf Star(which this is where most main sequence stars fall into, While a main sequence star could also be one of the classifications listed above. it just depends on its spectral class. for example the star Deneb is in its main sequence still and its classified as a hyper giant) VI= Sub Dwarfs (this is a very rare classification and are mostly used for brown dwarfs. I hope this helps mate.


What are K class stars?

K class stars are a type of main sequence star with a surface temperature typically ranging from about 3700 to 5200 Kelvin. They are slightly cooler and less massive than G class stars like our Sun, and are known for their orange color. K class stars are relatively common in the galaxy and can have planets orbiting them.


What are O class stars?

O class stars are hot, blue stars with temperatures of over 30,000 Kelvin and are among the most massive and luminous stars in the universe. They have short lifespans, burning through their fuel quickly and often end their lives in supernova explosions. O class stars are rare, making up less than 1% of all known stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

Related questions

Why do stars of spectral class M not show strong lines of hydrogen in their spectra?

Stars of spectral class M have cooler temperatures compared to stars of other spectral classes, causing their hydrogen lines to weaken and be less prominent in their spectra. The lower temperature results in lower energy levels, making it more difficult for hydrogen atoms to transition between energy levels and emit or absorb light in the hydrogen spectral lines.


What color is a star if its temperature is less than 3700?

A star with a temperature less that 3,700K has a spectral class of M and will have the colour red.


What type of star is Delta Geminorum?

Delta Geminorum (Wasat) is a ternary system (i.e it consists of three stars). The visible part is a spectroscopic binary consisting of two stars of spectral type approximately F1 with combined luminosity class IV-V, orbiting each other very closely. This is orbited by a smaller and less luminous companion of spectral class K3 V, at a distance of about 126 light-years, with a period of about 1200 years.


What are F class stars?

F class stars are main sequence stars that have a spectral classification of F and a surface temperature ranging from about 6,000 to 7,600 K. They are hotter and more massive than G class stars (like our Sun) but cooler and less massive than O and B class stars. F class stars typically appear white to yellow-white in color.


What are the letters that follow the spectral sequence OBAFGKM?

The next sequence of letters following OBAFGKM in the spectral classification system are L, T, Y. These letters are used to classify cooler and less luminous stars outside the main sequence, such as brown dwarfs.


Most of the stars in the main sequence are to the lower right of the sun what can you conclude about the brightness of these stars and their temperatures?

Main Sequence stars can be any spectral class of star. Something that might help you in the future is when you look up a star and see its spectral class, its always followed by a roman numeral to define where the star is in its life and size and they go as follows. I-a= A hyper Giant Star I-b= A very bright Super Giant star I= A normal Super Giant star II= Bright Giant star III= Giant star IV= Sub Giant star V= Dwarf Star(which this is where most main sequence stars fall into, While a main sequence star could also be one of the classifications listed above. it just depends on its spectral class. for example the star Deneb is in its main sequence still and its classified as a hyper giant) VI= Sub Dwarfs (this is a very rare classification and are mostly used for brown dwarfs. I hope this helps mate.


What are K class stars?

K class stars are a type of main sequence star with a surface temperature typically ranging from about 3700 to 5200 Kelvin. They are slightly cooler and less massive than G class stars like our Sun, and are known for their orange color. K class stars are relatively common in the galaxy and can have planets orbiting them.


What color is bcentauri?

It's not clear what specifically is being referred to as "bcentauri" here. There are three "best" candidates, in my opinion:Beta Centauri is a blue-white giant, spectral class B1.Alpha Centauri B is an orange dwarf, spectral class K1.B Centauri (which would be the leading candidate if it weren't a fairly dim and obscure visual 4th magnitude star) is an orange giant, spectral class K3.The spectral color is slightly different than the "true" color: the Sun is a "yellow dwarf", spectral class G2, but is actually white (sunlight is white more or less by definition, since it's what our eyes are designed for). Similarly, Alpha Centauri B is "really" a pale yellowish-orange, and B Centauri is just slightly more on the orange side than that.


What do these letters represent O B A F G K M N?

OBAFGKMN represents the spectral types of stars in order as seen on the Hertzsprung Russell Diagram.A common mnemonic device for this is: Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me Now.They stand for the diffrent classes of stars. They are put in these classes depending on what color they are and how hot they are.The letters refer to how prominently hydrogen is visible in a stars spectrum. It originally existed on a full scale: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOAs the physics of stars became better understood, many of the letters (CDEL) were rendered obsolete and it was realised that very hot stars have less prominent hydrogen lines, so that the order was re-arranged with O (no lines) then B before AFGKMN.The reasons for O and B at the top is that in hot stars the Hydrogen becomes ionised which gives a different set of characteristic lines.As such, they are now in order of overall surface temperature (and color), from white-blue stars more than 33,000K, down to red N class, at less than 3,500K.Also, as long as we talk about main sequence stars, stars in their main stage of life, it generally indicates size as well, with O class stars being the largest (50+ solar masses) to N being the smallest (0.5 solar masses or less)


Which category of stars include the sun?

Class II: yellow stars-hydrogen less strong, but evident metallic lines, such as the Sun, Arcturus and Capella. This includes the modern classes G and K as well as late class F.


Why would the star Sirius find that its spectral lines are blue shifted?

The spectral lines of Sirius are blueshifted because the star is moving more or less toward us.


What family relation is one of two orbiting stars said to be of the other?

A binary. Incidentally, astronomers believe that binaries are the most common type of star formations. Single stars like our sun are less common.