What is the relationship between a star's color and its temperature?

A star's color is directly related to its temperature, with hotter stars appearing bluer and cooler stars appearing redder.

The color of a star is determined by its temperature, with hotter stars appearing bluer and cooler stars appearing redder. This relationship is due to the fact that stars emit light across a range of wavelengths, with the peak of their emission spectrum shifting towards shorter wavelengths as their temperature increases. This means that hotter stars emit more blue light, while cooler stars emit more red light.

The relationship between a star's color and temperature can be quantified using Wien's law, which states that the wavelength of maximum emission from a black body is inversely proportional to its temperature. This means that as a star's temperature increases, the peak of its emission spectrum shifts towards shorter wavelengths, resulting in a bluer color.

The relationship between a star's color and temperature is also important for determining its spectral type, which is a classification system based on the presence of certain spectral lines in a star's spectrum. Spectral types range from O (hottest) to M (coolest), with each type corresponding to a specific temperature range. By analyzing a star's spectrum, astronomers can determine its temperature and spectral type, providing valuable information about its properties and evolution.