Red dwarf stars with surface temperatures below 3,700 Kelvin, the coolest and most common type of star in the galaxy. These stars are very long-lived, with lifespans potentially exceeding 100 billion years, far longer than the current age of the universe.
The M-type classification represents the coolest end of the Harvard spectral sequence, characterized by prominent molecular absorption bands, particularly titanium oxide. The 'M' designation has remained constant since the system's development, representing the most numerous stellar population.
M-type stars are the cosmic tortoises - slow, steady, and destined to inherit the universe! These red dwarfs make up about 75% of all stars, and they'll still be shining long after massive stars have exploded and even our Sun has died. The closest star to our Solar System, Proxima Centauri, is an M-dwarf, and many of these stars host potentially habitable planets in their close-in habitable zones.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.