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  1. Home
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  3. Main Sequence
Stellar Astronomy

Main Sequence

Definition

A band on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram representing stars fusing hydrogen into helium. Stars spend the majority of their lifetime on the main sequence. The Sun is a main-sequence star and will remain so for about 5 billion more years.

Related Terms

Star

A massive, luminous sphere of hot gas held together by gravity, generating energy through nuclear fusion. Stars range fr...

Red Giant

A luminous giant star that has exhausted its core hydrogen. The outer layers expand and cool, giving a reddish appearanc...

White Dwarf

A stellar core remnant of electron-degenerate matter, Earth-sized but with a mass comparable to the Sun. The final state...

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Full Glossary

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