Proxima Centauri - barely a real star

This is a colourful rendering of the basic Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for stars. Very-low-mass stars (also known as "M dwarfs") are faint and cool and are located to the lower right of the diagonal line (the "main sequence") on which most stars lie and which corresponds to where (and when) stars burn hydrogen into helium. The present location of the Sun is also indicated.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0232b
Type:Chart
Release date:29 November 2002
Related releases:eso0232
Size:800 x 956 px

About the Object

Name:Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, HR Diagram
Type:Unspecified : Star
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
462.7 KB
Screensize JPEG
552.7 KB