What distinguishes low mass stars from high mass stars?

Low mass stars and high mass stars are primarily distinguished by their mass, which significantly influences their entire lifecycle. Low mass stars, such as red dwarfs, typically have masses less than about two times that of our Sun. High mass stars, on the other hand, possess greater than two solar masses. This distinction is crucial because a star's mass determines its temperature, luminosity, lifespan, and the processes it undergoes throughout its existence.

Mass influences how a star forms, evolves, and ultimately ends its life. For instance, low mass stars have longer lifespans, often burning hydrogen at a slower rate compared to high mass stars, which fuse hydrogen more rapidly and consequently have shorter life cycles. Eventually, when they exhaust their nuclear fuel, low mass stars will shed their outer layers to become red giants before shedding mass into a planetary nebula, leaving behind a white dwarf. In contrast, high mass stars end their lives in more dramatic ways, such as supernova explosions, which completely alters the surrounding space and contributes to the creation of elements heavier than iron.

Considering the alternatives, color during formation points to various phases of stellar evolution rather than a definitive distinguishing factor between the two types. The number of planetary systems is not inherently linked to the mass