Red Dwarf

By

Andrew Lem

The red dwarf is the most common star in our The red dwarf is the most common star in our galaxy, they cover around 70% or our galaxy galaxy, they cover around 70% or our galaxy

A red dwarf is between 8% and 50% the A red dwarf is between 8% and 50% the mass of the sunmass of the sun

Because of the low mass of this star the Because of the low mass of this star the nuclear reactions that consume the hydrogen nuclear reactions that consume the hydrogen core can take as billion years, 6 billion years core can take as billion years, 6 billion years more than the estimated age of our universe.more than the estimated age of our universe.

Red dwarfs cores are relatively low temperature and Red dwarfs cores are relatively low temperature and generate energy slowly through nuclear fusion of generate energy slowly through nuclear fusion of hydrogen hydrogen

With the nuclear fusion or the hydrogen this star With the nuclear fusion or the hydrogen this star creates helium, this is called Proton-proton chain creates helium, this is called Proton-proton chain reactionreaction

Further fusion in stars only take place in heavier stars Further fusion in stars only take place in heavier stars otherwise the gravity forces the star to contract and otherwise the gravity forces the star to contract and form a cool red dwarfform a cool red dwarf

Since red dwarfs are cool they don’t shine very bright Since red dwarfs are cool they don’t shine very bright in fact they can emit as little as 1/10,000 of the suns in fact they can emit as little as 1/10,000 of the suns light but can shine for trillions of years longerlight but can shine for trillions of years longer

This is a picture of a This is a picture of a red dwarf, proxima red dwarf, proxima centauricentauri

It has an estimated It has an estimated lifetime of trillions or lifetime of trillions or years years

Currently it is having Currently it is having explosive outbursts explosive outbursts on the surface due to on the surface due to its low mass and its low mass and magnetic energymagnetic energy