The stage in which a small to average mass star has used up its helium and its outer layers escape into space, leaving behind a hot, dense core that contracts. After this stage, it will become a black dwarf.

A gigantic explosion in which a massive star collapses and throws its outer layers into space

An object in space whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape.

The small, dense remains of a high-mass star after a supernova

Where does nucleosynthesis take place?

The stage in the life cycle of a large mass star during which the star increases in size and becomes very bright. It is in this phase that heavier elements up to Iron are formed.

The transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas. The process that brings elements to the surface of stars to be dispersed into space by stellar winds.

A unit of measure equal to the mass of the sun used to compare the size of other objects in space

A very large star of high luminosity and low surface temperature. They are the phase of a small mass star after no hydrogen is left to burn and only helium remains.

A huge cloud of gas that is created when the outer layers of a red giant star drift out into space

A contracting cloud of gas and dust; the earliest stage of a star's life, after the interstellar nebula phase.

The actual brightness of a star

A normal star that is undergoing nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. Our sun is a typical main sequence star.

Stars with a mass that is less than 8 solar masses

Stars with a mass greater than 8 solar masses

A graph that shows the relationship between the temperature of stars and their brightness (luminosity) or absolute magnitude.

The heaviest element made in massive stars during their supergiant phase.