Spectral Classification of Stars

Main sequence stars Stars can be classified into spectral classes according to their colour, temperature, or prominent absorption lines.
Spectral Class Colour Temperature °K Prominent Absorption Lines
O blue 25,000 - 50,000  
\[H, \: He, \: He^{{}+{}}\]
 
B blue 11,000 - 25,000  
\[He, \: H\]
 
A blue white 7,500 - 11,000  
\[H\]
, ionised metals
F white 6,000 - 7,500 ionised metals
G yellow white 5,000 - 6,000 ionised and neutral metals
K orange 3,000 - 5,000 neutral metals
M red < 3,000 neutral metals, titanium oxide