Is the sun a high mass star or a low mass star?
It is a low mass star
Its mass is too low to become a supernova (and explode), but near the median of stellar masses.
The Sun is considered a medium-sized star, so it is neither a high mass star nor a low mass star. To determine if a star is a high mass or low mass star, astronomers use a classification called the stellar mass. Stellar mass refers to the mass of a star and is typically measured in terms of times the mass of our Sun, which is known as solar masses.
A high mass star, also known as a massive star, has a stellar mass of about 8 times or more than the mass of our Sun. These stars are much larger, hotter, and have shorter lifespans compared to low mass stars.
On the other hand, a low mass star, also known as a dwarf star, has a stellar mass less than about 2 times the mass of our Sun. These stars are smaller, cooler, and have longer lifespans compared to high mass stars.
As the Sun has a stellar mass of approximately 1 solar mass, it falls within the range considered for medium-sized stars, or sometimes referred to as main-sequence stars. These stars have characteristics that lie between high and low mass stars.
To determine whether a star is a high mass or low mass star, astronomers often rely on observations of its brightness, temperature, and spectral properties. By analyzing these factors, scientists can estimate the mass of a star and classify it accordingly.