Dwarf Stars: Detecting Low-Mass Stars in the Universe

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the detection of low-mass stars, specifically those around a tenth of the solar mass. Participants explore the challenges and frequency of detecting such stars, considering factors like distance and intrinsic brightness.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the difficulty of detecting stars of a tenth solar mass, noting that detection likely depends on distance.
  • Another participant asserts that since stars emit light, detecting even small stars should not be overly challenging.
  • Some participants reference a list of the 100 nearest stars, indicating that over 50% have masses less than 0.20 solar masses, suggesting these stars are common but difficult to detect at greater distances due to their dimness.
  • It is mentioned that the majority of stars are believed to be M class or lower mass, with these stars expected to have significantly longer lifespans than the sun.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the detectability of low-mass stars, with some agreeing on their commonality while others highlight the challenges posed by distance and brightness. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of detection methods and frequency.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on distance for detectability and the intrinsic brightness of low-mass stars, which may not be fully addressed in the discussion.

TrickyDicky
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How hard is it to detect stars say of a tenth the solar mass, I know it depends on the distance of course, but how frequently do we spot these kind of stars ,moreless?
 
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Hi there,

As star in the primo sense is an object that emits light. Therefore, it should not be to hard to detect stars, even small ones.
 
If you look at this list of the 100 nearest stars, over 50% have <0.20 solar masses. These types of stars are quite common, but become difficult to detect as they get further away because they are intrinsically so dim.

http://joy.chara.gsu.edu/RECONS/TOP100.posted.htm
 
phyzguy said:
If you look at this list of the 100 nearest stars, over 50% have <0.20 solar masses. These types of stars are quite common, but become difficult to detect as they get further away because they are intrinsically so dim.

http://joy.chara.gsu.edu/RECONS/TOP100.posted.htm

Thanks
 
The vast majority of stars are believed to be M class, or lower mass. These tiny furnaces will outlive our own sun by many billions of years.
 

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