K-type star

A K-type star is a star within the K-class, a spectral class indicating stars with neutral metal and very weak hydrogen absorption lines, an orange color, and a surface temperature in the 3700-5200 K range. The spectral energy distribution peaks in the near-infrared/visible range. Main sequence stars of this class (sometimes termed orange dwarfs or K dwarfs) are on the order of 3/4 solar masses, 3/4 solar radius, and 1/5 solar luminosity. Such main sequence stars burn their hydrogen in tens of billions of years. Characteristics of K-type main sequence stars:

K-type main sequence stars are a good bet for habitable extra-solar planets, but offer few planets for study because the stars are much rarer than M-type stars and much dimmer than the hotter classes. Giant stars can be of a K-type, including supergiants and hypergiants. Example K-type stars include Arcturus (a red giant), Epsilon Eridani, Epsilon Indi, J1407 (a subgiant), and TW Hydrae (a pre-main-sequence star).