G-type main-sequence star

The Sun, a typical example of a G-type main-sequence star (yellow-toned, visible-light photo)

A G-type main-sequence star (G V), often (and imprecisely) called a yellow dwarf, or G dwarf star, is a main-sequence star (luminosity class V) of spectral type G. Such a star has about 0.8 to 1.2 solar masses and surface temperature of between 5,300 and 6,000 K.^{[1], Tables VII, VIII.} Like other main-sequence stars, a G-type main-sequence star is in the process of converting hydrogen to helium in its core by means of nuclear fusion.^[2] The Sun is the best known (and most visible) example of a G-type main-sequence star. Each second, it fuses approximately 600 million tons of hydrogen to helium, converting about 4 million tons of matter to energy.^[3][4] Besides the Sun, other well-known examples of G-type main-sequence stars include Alpha Centauri A, Tau Ceti, and 51 Pegasi.^[5][6][7]

The term yellow dwarf is a misnomer, because G-type stars actually range in color from white, for more luminous types like the Sun, to only slightly yellow for the less luminous G-type main-sequence stars.^[8] The Sun is in fact white, but appears yellow through Earth's atmosphere due to Rayleigh scattering. In addition, although the term "dwarf" is used to contrast yellow main-sequence stars from giant stars, yellow dwarfs like the Sun outshine 90% of the stars in the Milky Way (which are largely orange dwarfs, red dwarfs, and white dwarfs, the latter being a stellar remnant).

A G-type main-sequence star will fuse hydrogen for approximately 10 billion years, until it is exhausted at the center of the star. When this happens, the star expands to many times its previous size and becomes a red giant, such as Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri).^[9] Eventually the red giant sheds its outer layers of gas, which become a planetary nebula, while the core cools and contracts into a compact, dense white dwarf.^[2]

Spectral standard stars

The revised Yerkes Atlas system (Johnson & Morgan 1953)^[10] listed 11 G-type dwarf spectral standard stars; however, not all of these have survived to this day as standards.

The "anchor points" of the MK spectral classification system among the G-type main-sequence dwarf stars, i.e. those standard stars that have remained unchanged over years, are beta CVn (G0V), the Sun (G2V), Kappa1 Ceti (G5V), 61 Ursae Majoris (G8V).^[11] Other primary MK standard stars include HD 115043 (G1V) and 16 Cygni B (G3V).^[12] The choices of G4 and G6 dwarf standards have changed slightly over the years among expert classifiers, but often-used examples include 70 Virginis (G4V) and 82 Eridani (G6V). There are not yet any generally agreed upon G7V and G9V standards.

Planets

Some of the nearest G-type stars known to have planets include the Sun, 61 Virginis, HD 102365, HD 147513, 47 Ursae Majoris, and Mu Arae.

See also

• Brown dwarf
• K-type main-sequence star
• Red dwarf
• Solar twin
• Star count, survey of stars
• Stellar classification, class G

References

Star Evolution Formation Pre-main-sequence star Main sequence Horizontal branch Asymptotic giant branch Dredge-up Instability strip Red clump PG1159 star Mira variable Planetary nebula Protoplanetary nebula Luminous red nova Luminous blue variable Wolf–Rayet star Supernova impostor Supernova Hypernova Hertzsprung–Russell diagram Color–color diagram Protostars Molecular cloud H II region Bok globule Young stellar object Herbig–Haro object Hayashi track Hayashi limit Henyey track Orion T Tauri FU Orionis Herbig Ae/Be Luminosity class Subdwarf Dwarf Blue Red White Yellow Black Brown Subgiant Giant Blue Red Bright giant Supergiant Blue Red Yellow Hypergiant Yellow Blue straggler Spectral classification O B A F G K M Be OB Subdwarf O Subdwarf B Late-type Peculiar Am Ap/Bp Oscillating Barium Carbon CH Extreme helium Lambda Boötis Lead Mercury-manganese S Shell Technetium Remnants White dwarf Black dwarf Helium planet Neutron star Pulsar Magnetar Stellar black hole Compact star Quark Exotic Stellar core: EF Eridani B Theoretical stars Dark-matter star Frozen star Q star Quasi-star Thorne–Żytkow object Iron star Nucleosynthesis Deuterium burning Lithium burning Proton–proton chain CNO cycle Helium flash Triple-alpha process Carbon burning Neon burning Oxygen burning Alpha process Silicon burning S-process R-process Fusor Nova Remnants Structure Core Convection zone Microturbulence Oscillations Radiation zone Atmosphere Photosphere Starspot Chromosphere Corona Stellar wind Bubble Asteroseismology Eddington luminosity Kelvin–Helmholtz mechanism Properties Designation Dynamics Effective temperature Kinematics Magnetic field Magnitude Absolute Mass Metallicity Rotation UBV color Variability Star systems Binary Contact Common envelope Multiple Accretion disc Star cluster Association Open cluster Globular cluster Super star cluster Planetary system Earth's Solar System Earth-centric observation of Pole star Circumpolar star Magnitude Apparent Extinction Photographic Color Radial velocity Proper motion Parallax Photometric-standard star Lists Star names Arabic Chinese Extremes Most massive Least massive Largest volume Smallest volume Brightest Historical Most luminous Nearest Nearest bright Stars with exoplanets Brown dwarfs Collapsars Milky Way novae Notable supernovae Supernova candidates Supernova remnants Planetary nebulae Timeline of stellar astronomy Related articles Substellar object Brown dwarf Sub-brown dwarf Planet Galactic year Galaxy Supercluster Helioseismology Guest star Constellation Asterism Gravity Intergalactic star Infrared dark cloud Category:Stars · Star portal