Galaxies, Stars, HR Diagram

Front

What is a galaxy?

Back

A system of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity.

Front

What are the main components of a galaxy?

Back

Stars, gas, dust, and dark matter.

Front

What is the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram?

Back

A scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between their absolute magnitudes or luminosities versus their stellar classifications or effective temperatures.

Front

What area of the HR diagram represents white dwarfs?

Back

Area Z.

Front

What is a nebula?

Back

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

Front

How do stars form?

Back

Star formation begins in a nebula when gravity causes the gas and dust to collapse and form a protostar.

Front

What is a main-sequence star?

Back

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

Front

What is a supergiant star?

Back

A very large star that is much brighter than a main-sequence star and has a short lifespan.

Front

What is a white dwarf?

Back

A small, dense star that is the remnant of a low to medium mass star after it has exhausted its nuclear fuel.

Front

What is the difference between a star and a planet?

Back

A star is a massive ball of plasma that generates energy through nuclear fusion, while a planet is a celestial body that orbits a star and does not produce its own light.