Stars come in a variety of colors, depending on their surface temperature. The color of a star is a direct indication of its temperature.
The Stellar Rainbow
Cooler stars appear red, with surface temperatures around 3,000°C. As a star's temperature increases due to more fuel burning, its color changes. This progression goes from orange, through yellow, to white. The hottest stars are blue, boasting temperatures up to 40,000°C.
- Red: Coolest stars
- Orange: Relatively cool stars
- Yellow: Intermediate temperature stars (like our Sun)
- White: Stars with higher temperatures than yellow stars
- Blue: Hottest stars
Several references support this, including this article and this Lumen Learning astronomy course. These sources consistently highlight the relationship between a star's temperature and its visible color. The color isn't a random occurrence but a direct result of the star's physical properties.
While some sources, such as the discussion on Reddit, delve into more complex aspects like black-body radiation, the core concept remains consistent. The perceived color is a function of the star's surface temperature.
Note: The color of a star in an image or illustration might be affected by factors beyond its inherent color, such as filters or imaging techniques. However, the underlying principle remains the same: a star’s inherent color is determined by its temperature.
