Astro*Dictionary
by Michael Erlewine

2 articles for
"Main Sequence"

Main Sequence [Astro*Index]

A band of stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.

Most stars, including our Sun, lie in this band. A star's position in the H-R diagram marks its evolutionary history. A star enters the main sequence when conditions in the protostar are such that nuclear fusion can produce helium from hydrogen (what happens in a hydrogen bomb). It leaves it when a large percentage of the hydrogen at the core is used up, at which point the star begins fusing the helium into heavier elements. The length of time a star spends in the main sequence varies; the more massive a star, the faster it burns. Our Sun has a main sequence life of about [l010?] years, and is about halfway through it.

 

See also: ♦ Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram ♦ Proto-star

 

Main Sequence [Munkasey M.]

A reference to the Hertzsprung-Russell classification of stars. The largest majority of stars have similar characteristics and are classified as such in this "Main Sequence". Stars with similar characteristics.

 

See also: ♦ Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram ♦ Proto-star