The Life Cycle of a Star

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What is a Protostar?

Back

A Protostar is a hot ball of mostly hydrogen that forms from a stellar nebula. At this stage, nuclear fusion has not yet started.

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What is the final stage of a low mass star?

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The final stage of a low mass star is a White Dwarf.

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What is the final stage of a high mass star?

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The final stage of a high mass star can be a Neutron Star or a Black Hole, depending on the mass.

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What is a Supernova?

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A Supernova is a massive explosion that occurs at the end of a high mass star's red giant phase, caused by rapid collapse due to gravity.

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What remains after a low-medium mass star has completed its red giant phase?

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After the red giant phase, a low-medium mass star leaves behind a hot inner core called a White Dwarf.

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What is a Red Giant?

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A Red Giant is a late stage in the life cycle of a star where it expands and cools after exhausting hydrogen in its core.

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What is a Neutron Star?

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A Neutron Star is the remnant core of a massive star after a supernova explosion, composed mostly of neutrons.

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What is a Black Hole?

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A Black Hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.

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What is a Planetary Nebula?

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A Planetary Nebula is an astronomical object formed from the outer layers of a star that are expelled during the late stages of its life cycle.

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What triggers nuclear fusion in a star?

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Nuclear fusion in a star is triggered when the core temperature and pressure become high enough to fuse hydrogen atoms into helium.