1.3 The Life Cycle of Stars

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What are high mass stars?

Back

Stars with masses greater than three times the mass of the Sun; they are the largest, hottest, and brightest Main Sequence stars, typically blue, blue-white, or white in color.

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What is a nebula?

Back

A large cloud of gas or dust in space, often the birthplace of stars.

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What is a black hole?

Back

A region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

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What are Super Red Giants?

Back

The biggest and most massive stars in the universe.

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What is a black dwarf?

Back

What a medium-mass star becomes at the end of its life.

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What is the life cycle of a star?

Back

The process through which a star forms, evolves, and eventually dies, including stages like nebula, main sequence, red giant, and supernova.

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What is nuclear fusion?

Back

The process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy; it powers stars.

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What is the main sequence?

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A continuous and distinctive band of stars that appears on plots of stellar color versus brightness; most stars, including the Sun, are in this phase.

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What happens during a supernova?

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A massive explosion that occurs at the end of a star's life cycle, often resulting in the formation of a neutron star or black hole.

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What is a planetary nebula?

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A shell of gas ejected from a medium-mass star during the late stages of its evolution.