Life Cycle of a Star

Front

What is the main sequence star?

Back

A stage in a star's life where hydrogen is fusing into helium; it is the longest stage in a star's life.

Front

What is a black dwarf?

Back

The stage of a low-mass star when it has stopped glowing and is a dark piece of space rock; our sun will end its life as a black dwarf.

Front

What is the life cycle of an average-sized star?

Back

Nebula > Protostar > Main-sequence star > Red giant > Planetary nebula > White dwarf > Black dwarf.

Front

What is the life cycle of a massive-sized star?

Back

Nebula > Protostar > Main sequence star > Red supergiant > Supernova > Black hole or Neutron star.

Front

What is a red supergiant?

Back

A stage in a high-mass star that is very similar to the red giant, but expands faster, lasts longer, and gets bigger.

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

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

Front

What is a protostar?

Back

An early stage in the formation of a star, where gas and dust begin to collapse under gravity.

Front

What happens during a supernova?

Back

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

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

The remnant core of a low-mass star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers.

Front

What is a neutron star?

Back

A very dense star that is the remnant of a supernova explosion, primarily composed of neutrons.