The difference of the stars in color. Spectra of normal stars and spectral classification

In outer space, stars of different types live, which differ in their structure, in the strength of radiation, in the color they create around themselves, as well as in a number of other features. On this basis, separate characteristics for each of the types of celestial bodies were compiled. Fortunately, there were not too many of them, and all of them can fit in our article. Therefore, below we will consider how to identify the difference in stars by color, what it generally means and how it affects the environment.

What is a star?

In fact, any star is a huge ball of red-hot plasma. It includes components such as hydrogen and helium, which, in contact with each other, form huge streams of heat and light. After the state of these two components around the star is normalized, it begins to be surrounded by planets. They are formed from cosmic stones, from asteroids, comets or for other, more complex reasons. But here it is worth noting that it is the difference of the stars in color that gives us an opportunity to understand whether planets can form around a particular heavenly body. As a rule, such satellites appear around stars that have an average luminescence and heat transfer. So, we'll tell you about the color of stars with these or other features below.

Celestial luminaries of class "O"

Such cosmic objects are considered to be one of the brightest in the universe. The blue stars are the largest in their radius, mass and luminosity. They got their name thanks to the fact that they radiate such a bluish shade, which is visible at great distances, even by cosmic standards. There is a chemical explanation for this: in this plasma sphere, elements such as helium, nitrogen, carbon and others are very strongly ionized, resulting in ultraviolet glow. Stars of a blue color, despite their power and enormous size, live very little. On average, their existence lasts for 1 million years, after which the star explodes. Near such heavenly bodies of the planet, theoretically suitable for life, are extremely rare. A bright representative of this type is the Garnib star.

Slightly less light - category "B"

Now we will consider the category of white-blue cosmic lights that slightly lag behind their predecessors in all respects. Since the name and color of stars in astronomy always coincide, we will not describe their appearance. The cosmic body receives a characteristic shade due to the fact that hydrogen ionizes in the plasma, while helium reaches a practically neutral state. It is the last element that creates around them a white shell, which is often represented in the form of strips. Such luminaries live for 10-15 million years, and the probability that they can form planets suitable for living around them is very high. Find a blue and white star in the sky in the constellation Virgo. They are called Spica.

Stars of category "A"

Stars of white color are among the most popular in space. The intensity of the glow is great, but the huge fluxes of radiation and other radiation do not interfere with other comic bodies that are located around them, lead a normal life. Cosmic objects, included in this category, have exceptionally white color due to the fact that in them hydrogen reaches a maximum neutral state. This turns it, in synthesis with other components, into a snow-white mass that radiates an uncountable number of kelvins that turn into heat and light. Stars of white color are also called "striped", since it is hydrogen that appears on their surface in the form of strips. The duration of the existence of such a star ranges from 400 million to 2 billion years. Similar heavenly bodies are found in the constellations of the Great Dog (Sirius), as well as Lira (Vega).

Group of stars under the code "F"

The fact that the name and color of the stars always coincide, we are indebted to the chemical processes that occur there. Therefore, now we will consider cosmic plasma giants, which fall into the category of "white-yellow" and have a characteristic glow. Hydrogen in such heavenly bodies is no longer contained in that huge amount, as in the cases described above. Here, on the contrary, other metals predominate - iron, titanium, and also calcium. They are ionized, giving the melting plasma a slightly yellowish shade. Since the star is not too large in size, this color is her salvation. It can be seen for billions of light years, because astronomers can see such cosmic objects in their telescopes, even if they are very far from the Earth. Such stars live for 4 or more billion years, and often gather around themselves parades of planets, where life can be born. Representatives of this group are the luminaries Porcion and Ropagi.

A star named the Sun ... consider class "G"

The following in our list are the stars of yellow color, the brightest for us the representative of which is the Sun. Such cosmic bodies are filled with various metals, the main place among which is occupied by calcium. They are very strongly ionized, resulting in a rich yellow tint. Heavy intensity is given to other heavy metals, which also melt under tremendous temperatures. Hydrogen strips here are completely invisible, and this substance itself is contained in yellow stars in very small quantities. The lifespan of such luminaries is about 10 billion years. This allows not only to gather around a certain number of planets, but also to keep them in their orbits for a fairly long (by space standards) time interval. For an example, take a look at our Solar System.

Star category "K"

Since the difference of stars in color is officially recognized by the astronomical system all over the world, we pass to the penultimate category, which is called the "orange" one. In the composition of these celestial bodies, hydrogen is already contained in a very small state, because it shows little itself. White lines on the surface are almost not visible, but the results of melting other metals, of which the star is made, are very noticeable. There are also aluminum, and titanium, and iron, and most importantly - calcium. The melting temperature of all these elements is not too high here. Because of this, a lilac train, which can be seen behind brighter stars (categories O, A, etc.), is completely absent here. Nevertheless, in spite of low temperature indices and a small amount, orange stars can collect around themselves small planetary systems. They are not always born with life, but they exist until the orange "sun" disappears from space itself. His life is measured 60 billion years. Stars-representatives of this category - Yavin, Aldebaran and Arcturus.

The smallest stars are group "M"

The stars of red color are characterized by a very cold temperature and weakened melting processes of metals. They also have very small parameters, in comparison with their giant counterparts, low mass and radiation power. The reddish glow around the star is no longer created by the fact that various metals are melted here, but because the degree of their oxidation reaches its maximum, and the molecules simply absorb each other. Around such red dwarfs, planets suitable for habitation are very rarely formed. Betelgeuse is the brightest representative of this category, whose age is estimated in tens of trillions of years.

Atypical heavenly bodies

We have just considered how the difference between stars is made in color, but there are no anomalous categories of such celestial bodies. What, in fact, in space there are stars of the category "C". This can be said synthesis of orange and red stars, which contains the maximum number of different metals. The main feature of the category is that there are atoms that absorb carbohydrate and hydrogen, which makes the star even colder and fainter. Where the class "S" is more anomalous. It is very similar to orange, but instead of a large amount of titanium, its composition includes as much zirconium.

Conclusion

As it turned out, the color of the stars and how to classify them can tell us exactly their appearance. The glow and its shade are created thanks to the materials that melt there and form certain mixtures. They are allocated under a specific degree, spreading into space not only light, but also heat, which can heat or burn all nearby objects.