Orange stars with surface temperatures of 3,700-5,200 Kelvin, cooler and less massive than our Sun but more numerous in the galaxy. These stars have very long lifespans of 15-45 billion years, making them excellent candidates for supporting life.
The K-type designation comes from the Harvard classification system, representing stars with strong metallic absorption lines, particularly calcium. The 'K' classification has remained consistent since the system's temperature-based reorganization in the early 20th century.
K-type stars might be the universe's best bet for supporting life! These orange stars like Epsilon Eridani live incredibly long lives - much longer than our Sun - giving life plenty of time to evolve and flourish. They're also more stable than G-type stars with fewer harmful flares, and their habitable zones are closer in, making planets easier to detect and potentially more tidally stable.
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