What property dictates a star's surface temperature, subsequently influencing its color appearance?
Answer
Its mass
The intrinsic surface temperature of a star is almost entirely governed by its initial mass. Stars with greater mass generate substantially higher core pressures and, as a direct result, sustain much more rapid and intense nuclear fusion rates. This elevated energy generation pushes significantly more heat outward, leading to much higher surface temperatures, which manifest as a blue or blue-white color. Conversely, lower-mass stars experience less intense core conditions, burn their fuel more slowly, remain cooler, and thus display a reddish hue.
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