4.3 Stars, Stars, Stars

Characteristics of Stars

Ordinary light is made up of the seven colours of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Prisms can bend rays of light. When rays of light are bent, the light splits into its individual colours.

Scientists can examine light using an instrument called a spectroscope. A spectroscope splits the light that passes through it, and displays a series of colours. The series of colours that is produced is called a spectrum.

Stars give off light during part of their life-cycle. The colour of a star can reveal a lot about its characteristics.