I Star spectra and star color relation

AI Thread Summary
Star color is primarily determined by its surface temperature, with hotter stars emitting more blue light due to higher intensity in the blue and purple spectrum. The spectrum of a star, which includes specific emission and absorption lines, plays a minor role in its perceived color. Cool stars, conversely, emit light skewed towards the infrared, resulting in a reddish appearance. The relationship between a star's spectrum and its color is secondary to the effects of temperature. Overall, temperature is the key factor influencing a star's color.
nmsurobert
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I'm reading about star spectra, color, and temperature and have a question...

I understand that very hot stars burn blue because a lot of the radiation is on the UV end so it appears more blue when its ran through several color filters. and the opposite applies for cool stars that are skewed towards IR. but does the stars spectra have anything to do with its color or does color mostly come from temperature?

thanks!
 
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The spectrum of a star is primarily a function of the temperature of its surface, with individual emission and absorption lines being secondary and only barely contributing to its color. Unfiltered light from a very hot star appears bluish because the intensity of the visible light at the blue and purple end of the spectrum is higher than that of the orange and red end, which is the result of its very high surface temperature.
 
The word spectra is the plural form of spectrum, which is commonly defined as 'The spectrum is the range of different colors which is produced when light passes through a glass prism or through a drop of water.' So it is safe to conclude the terms temperature and color are ambiguous in science.
 
Drakkith said:
The spectrum of a star is primarily a function of the temperature of its surface, with individual emission and absorption lines being secondary and only barely contributing to its color. Unfiltered light from a very hot star appears bluish because the intensity of the visible light at the blue and purple end of the spectrum is higher than that of the orange and red end, which is the result of its very high surface temperature.
Ah ok. Awesome. Thanks!
 
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