Astrophysics (Index)About

substellar object

(substar)
(star-like object with less mass than a star)

The classification substellar object (or substar) covers objects like stars only with less mass, basically less than 0.08 solar mass, when the mass is insufficient for hydrogen burning. The classification covers brown dwarfs and similarly-large giant planets, and applies whether or not they are within star systems, and also regardless of formation: "former stars", beyond their main sequence, qualify if they are left with that amount of mass. A common use of the term is for a detected object apparently lacking the size or mass to indicate a star, and not enough of its characteristics are determined to distinguish between a planet versus a brown dwarf.


(star type)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substellar_object
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Substellar_objects
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100540220

Referenced by pages:
brown dwarf (BD)
EF Eridani
field
free-floating planet (FFP)
helium planet
TW Hydrae association (TWA)

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