White Dwarfs in Globular Cluster M4
This graph shows the relationship between the temperature and brightness of a sampling of stars in the globular cluster M4. The line of dots at upper right represents main-sequence stars, those whose cores are fusing hydrogen. Normal stars like our Sun fall in the middle of this line.
The white dwarfs are not part of the main-sequence stars because they have used up their hydrogen fuel. These dying stars are fainter and yet hotter than their main-sequence relatives. NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope hunted for the faintest and coolest of the white dwarfs [bottom of white dwarf population.]
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo0210f |
| Type: | Chart |
| Release date: | 24 April 2002, 19:00 |
| Size: | 717 x 600 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Messier 4, NGC 6121 |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : White Dwarf • Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Globular |
| Distance: | 5500 light years |
