Which stellar types are identified as the universe's quickest-burning candles?
Answer
O-type and B-type stars
The stars known for the shortest main-sequence existences are the O-type and B-type stars. These stellar behemoths reside at the top end of the mass spectrum. Their immense mass results in incredibly high core temperatures necessary to counteract extreme gravitational pressure. Consequently, they burn through their readily available hydrogen fuel reserves at an astonishingly rapid rate. This prodigious consumption means that while they are extremely luminous and visible across vast distances, their time spent fusing hydrogen is limited to mere millions of years, a cosmic blink of an eye compared to lower-mass stars.
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Which Type Of Star Has The Shortest Life Span? - Physics Frontier
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