Astrophysics (Index)About

substellar object

(star-like object with less mass than a star)

The classification substellar object (or substar) covers objects like stars only with less mass, basically less than 0.08 solar mass, when the mass is insufficient for hydrogen burning. The classification covers brown dwarfs and similarly-large giant planets, and applies whether or not they are within star systems, and also regardless of formation: "former stars", beyond their main sequence, qualify if they are left with that amount of mass.

(star type)
Further reading:

Referenced by pages:
brown dwarf (BD)
EF Eridani
helium planet
TW Hydrae association (TWA)
WISE 0855-0714 (W0855)