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Wolf-Rayet star |
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Wolf-Rayet star: see spectral class spectral class, in astronomy, a classification of the stars by their spectrum and luminosity . In 1885, E. C. Pickering began the first extensive attempt to classify the stars spectroscopically. ..... Click the link for more information. . Wolf-Rayet star [¦vȯlf rī¦ā ‚stär] (astronomy) A member of a class of very hot stars (100,000-35,000 K) which characteristically show broad bright emission lines in their spectra; luminosities are high, probably in the range 104-105times that of the sun; these stars are probably very young and represent an early short-lived stage in stellar evolution. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Akin to the winds of ionized particles blowing out from the sun, these winds of O and Wolf-Rayet stars are much more powerful, with speeds of 2,000 to 4,000 kilometers per second. These objects may represent a brief transitional phase between ordinary massive stars, known as O stars, and Wolf-Rayet stars, which have ejected their outer layers. Drissen's team speculated that the winds blown either by bright, hot stars known as Wolf-Rayet stars or by old stars called red supergiants could have pumped up the gas. |
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