T Tauri star

Any of a class of very young stars with masses less than about twice the Sun's.

Characterized by unpredictable changes in brightness, they represent an early stage in stellar evolution, having only recently been formed by the gravitational condensation of interstellar gas and dust. The energy by which they shine derives from the gravitational collapse itself. These young stars, though now contracting more slowly, are still relatively unstable and will remain so until their interior temperatures become high enough to support nuclear fusion for energy generation. More than 500 T Tauri stars have been observed.

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▪ astronomy

      any of a class of very young stars having a mass of the same order as that of the Sun. So called after a prototype identified in a bright region of gas and dust known as the Hind's variable nebula, the T Tauri stars are characterized by erratic changes in brightness. They represent an early stage in stellar evolution, having only recently been formed by the rapid gravitational condensation of interstellar gas and dust. These young stars are relatively unstable, though contracting more slowly than before, and will remain in that condition until their interior temperatures become high enough to support thermonuclear reactions for energy generation. More than 500 T Tauri stars have so far been observed. The Sun is thought to have gone through the T Tauri stage in its early youth.

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