B star

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. a massive, relatively hot, blue to white star, as Rigel or Spica, having a surface temperature between 10,000 and 30,000 K and with an absorption spectrum dominated by the Balmer series of hydrogen with lines of neutral helium present.

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Example Sentences

But if the spectrum also contains helium lines, then it is a B star, whereas if it contains lines of ionized iron and other metals, it must be a G star.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

Looking at the lines in our figure, you see that the star could be either a B star or a G star.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

Do these differences mean that the Sun contains more iron and less helium than the B star?

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

A B0 star is the hottest type of B star; a B9 star is the coolest type of B star and is only slightly hotter than an A0 star.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

Second planet of a B star in Corona Borealis.

From The Misplaced Battleship by Schoenherr, John