Space

What do colour of a star indicate? A) size b) age c) distance d) temperature

Answer #1

All of the above?

  • Bigger stars burn hotter (but shorter), and are thus whiter.
  • Older stars become red dwarfs or neutron stars, etc
  • Distant stars appear redder due to the doppler effect.
  • Color is directly related to temperature (presumably this is the ‘simple’ answer they’re asking for).
Answer #2

It indicates the temperature, but many of the choices inter-relate. Distance doesn’t affect the color, but it can affect the apparent luminosity. As stars age they change, for instance our sun (a yellow star) in many billions of years will become a red giant, and then a white dwarf.

Answer #3

d

Answer #4

brightness, temperature, and age

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