The Life Cycle of Stars

BIRTH TO DEATH

Stars are formed in clouds of gas and dust, known as nebulae.

Nuclear reactions at the centre (or core) of stars provides enough energy to
make them shine brightly for many years. The exact lifetime of a star
depends very much on its size. Small stars, like the Sun, will undergo a
relatively peaceful and beautiful death that sees them pass through
a planetary nebula phase to become a white dwarf. Massive stars, on the
other hand, will experience a most energetic and violent end, which will see
their remains scattered about the cosmos in a enormous explosion, called
a supernova. Once the dust clears, the only thing remaining will be a
rapidly spinning neutron star, or possibly even a black hole.
Stars expand as they grow old. As the core runs out of hydrogen and
then helium, the core contacts and the outer layers expand, cool, and
become less bright. This is a red giant or a red super giant (depending on
the initial mass of the star). It will eventually collapse and explode. Its fate
is determined by the original mass of the star; it will become a black
dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.

Stellar Nebula this is the

protostar composed of dust
and clouds known as
nebula. In this stage, the
star is trying to achieve
equilibrium between the
gravity, the pressure on the
core, and the temperature.

Average/Sun-like/Small
Star after achieving
equilibrium, the star begins
burning up its own supply of
hydrogen and helium through
nuclear fusion. It is about 1.5
times the size of the sun.

Red Giant this star has a

cool surface. It is 10 to 100
times of the sun. it is
formed during the dater
stages of evolution. The
temperature is not as great
as the sun but they are still
just as bright.

Planetary Nebula in
this stage, the star has no
energy left and begins
losing layers and forms a
complex structure.

White Dwarf the

electrons in the star
continue to repulse
inside the core. It is
composed of carbon
and is about size of the
earth; very dense star
that is the end of
average star life.

Massive Star the

surface temperatures range
from 2000 to 3000 degrees.
The smallest range it can
have is 8% of the suns
mass. It produces heavy
metals that help regulate
the accretion rates of
normal stars; their
formation is still a great
mystery.

Red Supergiant biggest

stars in the universe, with
short life cycle. It forms at
the end of star life. When
the nuclear fuel decreases,
the core of the star
compacts making the outer
layers of the star expand
and becoming a super
giant.
Supernova this stage is
the death of the star and
results from having 10
times brightness of the sun
for a short period of time. It
has an internal nuclear
reaction causing it to
explode, a stellar explosion
that is triggered by the loss
if any remaining fuel,
enriches interstellar
medium.

Blackhole infinite gravity

and no mass.

Neutron Star remnant of

supernova that ejects
particles. When a supernova
explodes, it becomes
extremely dense. The
neutrons inside come
together and form a neutron
star.

An evolved star is an old star that is near the end of its existence. Its
nuclear fuel is mostly gone. The star loses mass from its surface, producing
a stellar wind (gas that is ejected from the surface of a star). Older stars
produce more stellar wind than younger stars.

REFERENCES:
http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/rel_stars.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/stars/lifecycle/
http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/astro/stars/lifecycle
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/stars/lifecycle/stardeath.shtml