What is a main-sequence star?
Quick Answer
A main-sequence star is a stable star that produces energy by fusing hydrogen into helium in its core. The Sun is a main-sequence star.
The Full Story
Main-sequence stars are stars in the longest, most stable phase of their lives. They generate energy through hydrogen fusion in their cores, which balances the inward pull of gravity. The Sun has been a main-sequence star for about 4.6 billion years and will remain so for roughly another 5 billion years. In the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, most stars fall along the main sequence, from cool red dwarfs to hot blue stars. Their mass largely determines how bright, hot, and long-lived they are.
Key Facts
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"Why most stars spend most of their lives on one cosmic lane"
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