Presentation Transcript
The Life Cycle of a Star: The Life Cycle of a Star
A Star is Born: A Star is Born Protostar
The first stage
Formed when a large cloud of dust and gas collapses under its own gravity.
60 million miles across
Temperature starts to rise
Two Choices: Option 1: Two Choices: Option 1 The protostar is not big enough
Turns into a brown dwarf
larger than a planet, but smaller than a star
does not give off much light
Two Choices: Option 2: Two Choices: Option 2 The protostar is big enough
Protostar becomes a star!
This phase is called the Main Sequence
Will last between millions and billions of years.
What Happens Next?: What Happens Next? It depends on how big the new star is. There are three big divisions
Sun-Size
Huge -- 3 times the mass of the sun
Giant -- over 3 times the mass of the sun
Sun-Size: Sun-Size
Huge: Huge
Giant: Giant
Red Giant Pictures: Red Giant Pictures
Planetary Nebula: Planetary Nebula
Supernova: Supernova
White Dwarf: White Dwarf
Neutron Star: Neutron Star
Black Hole: Black Hole