spectral class

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spectral classsearch for term: The classification of star according to the appearance of their spectra. Spectral classification is indicated with the letters and the numbers 0 to 9. The letters used are O, B, A, F, G, K, M, often remembered with the mnemonic "Oh be a fine girl (guy), kiss me," and they are assigned to stars in order of decreasing effective temperature.

The colors of stars are dictated by their effective temperature, so that an O-star spectrum is brightest at the blue end, while the M-star spectrum is brightest at the red end.