Cold Star

The surface of the sun is 5778 K, which is 5505°C or 9941° F. That is about four times the melting point of steel, in other words, REALLY HOT. Hotter stars exist of course, up to 40,000 K.

Earlier this year, NASA announced a very cold star found by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer:

"...called WISE 1828+2650, is the record holder for the coldest brown dwarf, with an estimated atmospheric temperature cooler than room temperature, or less than about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius)."

Barely above the recommended comfort level of a summertime bedroom, this discovery amazed me. To think of literally reaching out and touching a star!