Lowermass

Lowermass is a term used in scientific discourse to describe objects or regimes characterized by relatively small mass, typically compared with a reference standard such as the solar mass. The exact boundary of 'low' is context-dependent and not universally standardized.

In astronomy and astrophysics, lowermass commonly refers to objects at the lower end of the mass spectrum. It is used to describe low-mass stars, substellar objects such as brown dwarfs, and planetary-mass bodies. Typical approximate demarcations are: low-mass stars about 0.1 to 0.5 solar masses; brown dwarfs below about 0.08 solar masses; planets well below that threshold, roughly 0.001 to 0.01 solar masses (a few to tens of Jupiter masses).

Observationally, studying lowermass objects informs our understanding of star formation, the initial mass function, and planetary system development. They exhibit cooler temperatures, lower luminosities, and distinctive spectral features, often requiring infrared measurements and precise distance estimates to determine physical properties.

Terminology varies by field. The compound 'lowermass' is not a standard formal term across all disciplines; more commonly 'low-mass' is used as a descriptive modifier. When encountered as a single word, it generally serves as a shorthand label within a particular dataset or glossary, rather than a universally defined category.

See also: low-mass star, brown dwarf, red dwarf, initial mass function, planet.