What is a red dwarf?
Quick Answer
A red dwarf is a small, cool, long-lived star with low mass and low brightness. It is the most common type of star in the Milky Way.
The Full Story
Red dwarfs are stars with masses well below the Sun’s, typically less than about 0.6 solar masses. Because they burn fuel slowly, they can shine for tens to hundreds of billions of years, far longer than the current age of the universe. Their low temperatures make them faint and reddish compared with hotter stars. Proxima Centauri, the nearest known star to the Sun, is a red dwarf. Many exoplanets found by astronomers orbit red dwarfs because these stars are so numerous.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The universe’s most common stars are tiny, dim, and incredibly long-lived"
Was this answer helpful?
Tap a reaction — it helps us pick what to cover next.