Life Cycle of Stars

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What is a supernova?

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A star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness due to a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.

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What is a red supergiant?

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An extremely large red giant star with a minimum of 15 solar masses, known for its high luminosity, such as Betelgeuse.

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What does luminosity refer to in astronomy?

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The intrinsic brightness of a celestial object.

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What is a red giant?

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A very large star of high luminosity and low surface temperature, in a late stage of evolution when no hydrogen remains in the core.

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What are heavy elements?

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A group of elements, including iron, gold, copper, lead, and magnesium, that conduct heat and electricity well.

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What is the life cycle of a star?

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The series of stages a star goes through from formation to its end, including phases like main sequence, red giant, and supernova.

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What is nuclear fusion?

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The process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy, and is the source of a star's energy.

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What is a main sequence star?

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A star that is in the stable phase of its life cycle, where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core.

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What happens during the core collapse of a star?

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The core of a massive star collapses under gravity, leading to a supernova explosion.

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What is a neutron star?

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A dense remnant of a supernova, composed mostly of neutrons, and is one of the possible end states of a massive star.