Stars come in a variety of colors, which are determined by their surface temperatures. The colors of stars, from hottest to coldest, are as follows:
- Blue: The hottest stars are blue, with surface temperatures exceeding 25,000 Kelvin. These stars are often very massive and burn their fuel quickly.
- Blue-White: Slightly cooler than blue stars, blue-white stars have surface temperatures between 10,000 and 25,000 Kelvin.
- White: White stars, like our Sun, have surface temperatures ranging from 7,500 to 10,000 Kelvin.
- Yellow-White: These stars have surface temperatures between 6,000 and 7,500 Kelvin.
- Yellow: Yellow stars, such as the Sun, have surface temperatures around 5,000 to 6,000 Kelvin.
- Orange: Orange stars are cooler, with surface temperatures between 3,500 and 5,000 Kelvin.
- Red: The coolest stars are red, with surface temperatures below 3,500 Kelvin. These stars are often smaller and have longer lifespans.
Understanding the color of a star can give us insights into its temperature, age, and stage in its lifecycle. The color sequence from blue to red represents a decrease in temperature, with blue stars being the hottest and red stars being the coolest.