Why Are Stars Different Colors?

Stars are beautiful, wondrous things. Much like planets, planetoids and other stellar bodies, they come in many sizes, shapes, and even colors. And over the course of many centuries, astronomers have come to discern several different types of stars based on these fundamental characteristics. For instance, the color of a star - which varies from bluish-white and yellow to orange and red - is primarily due to its composition and effective temperature. And at all times, stars emit light which is a ...