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Why does the size of a white dwarf affect its visual luminosity?

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User Rcoyner
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Answer:

A typical white dwarf has a carbon and oxygen mass similar to the Sun, but is much smaller in size (similar to the Earth). It is much hotter (25,000 K), but because of its small size its luminosity is low. ... Some very nearby white dwarf stars can be observed directly through telescopes, though they are extremely faint.

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User Victor Stagurov
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