What are dwarf stars?

Q: What are dwarf stars?


A: Dwarf stars refer to several types of stars that were originally classified by their brightness in relation to the Sun.

Q: Who coined the term "dwarf stars"?


A: The term "dwarf stars" was coined by the Danish astronomer Ejnar Hertzsprung in 1906.

Q: How did Hertzsprung classify the reddest stars in the Harvard scheme?


A: Hertzsprung classified the reddest stars in the Harvard scheme as K and M and noticed that they could be divided into two distinct groups: giants and dwarfs.

Q: What is the difference between giant and dwarf stars?


A: The difference between giant and dwarf stars is their brightness in relation to the Sun. Giants are much brighter than the Sun, while dwarfs are much fainter.

Q: Why were the dwarf stars given their name?


A: The dwarf stars were given their name because they were fainter than the giants and the term "dwarf" was used to distinguish them from the giants.

Q: How has the term "dwarf stars" been expanded?


A: The term "dwarf stars" has been expanded to include several types of stars beyond the initial classification by brightness, including white dwarfs and brown dwarfs.

Q: When did the term "dwarf stars" become more inclusive?


A: The term "dwarf stars" became more inclusive following its initial use by Hertzsprung, when it was expanded to include other types of stars over time.

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