K V star

A K V star is a main sequence (hydrogen-burning) star of spectral type K and luminosity class V. These stars are intermediate in size between red M-type main sequence stars of luminosity class V and yellow G-type main sequence stars of luminosity class V. They have masses of from 0.5 to 0.8 times the mass of the Sun and surface temperatures between 3,900 and 5,200 K. [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1981A&AS...46..193H Empirical bolometric corrections for the main-sequence] , G. M. H. J. Habets and J. R. W. Heintze, "Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement" 46 (November 1981), pp. 193–237.] ^{, Tables VII, VIII.} Examples include Alpha Centauri B and Epsilon Indi. [SIMBAD, entries for [http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Alpha%20Centauri%20B Alpha Centauri B] and [http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Epsilon%20Indi Epsilon Indi] , accessed on line June 19, 2007.]

These stars are of particular interest in the search for extraterrestrial life because they are stable on the main sequence for a very long time (15 to 30 billion years, compared to 10 billion for the Sun). This may create an opportunity for life to evolve on terrestrial planets orbiting such stars.Fact|date=July 2008

References

ee also

* Solar twins