The Mystery of Spectral Types: Sirius vs Rigel

What can we conclude about the core and surface temperatures of Sirius and Rigel based on their spectral types A and B?

Based on their spectral types A and B, we can conclude that Rigel has a higher surface temperature than Sirius.

The spectral types of stars, such as A and B, provide information about their surface temperature. In the spectral classification system, stars are categorized based on their spectral lines, which are related to the temperature of their outer layers.

A stars are hotter than B stars, and the sequence of stellar spectral types goes from hottest to coolest as follows: O, B, A, F, G, K, M. Therefore, since Rigel is classified as a B star and Sirius is classified as an A star, we can conclude that Rigel has a higher surface temperature than Sirius.

However, it's important to note that the spectral type alone does not provide information about the core temperature of a star. The core temperature of a star is much hotter than its surface temperature, and it is primarily determined by factors such as the star's mass, age, and stage of evolution.