Type A star

A star of the spectral class A; a bright white star. Surface temperatures range between 7500 and 10000 K. Lines of heavy elements, such as iron, are noticeable at the cooler end of the range. Some examples include Sirius, Vega, Orbeus 6 and Altair. A-type supergiants, such as Deneb, may be as hot as 11,000 K. Among A-type peculiar stars are Ae stars, Am stars, and Ap stars. Also, two of the main kinds of pulsating variables have surface temperatures in the A-star range.

Early in their life, they can retain heavy disks of planet-making material and therefore form more massive planets at wider separations that are easy to detect.

See also

• List of type A stars.