Star Birth & Basics
This is a large cloud of gas and dust in space where all stars begin their lives.
What is a nebula?
What Galaxy is our solar system a part of?
What is the Milky Way Galaxy
Our Sun is currently in this stable, middle-life stage where 90% of a star's life is spent.
What is the main sequence?
This is the red, expanded stage of a high-mass star that occurs after it runs out of hydrogen fuel.
What is a red supergiant?
The H-R Diagram plots stars based on these two main characteristics.
What are temperature (or color) and luminosity (or brightness/absolute magnitude)?
Gravity is the force that pulls particles of gas and dust together to form this "baby star," which is not yet hot enough for nuclear fusion.
What is a protostar?
What type of Galaxy is the Milky Way?
What is a spiral Galaxy?
This is the red, expanded stage of an average star that occurs after it runs out of hydrogen fuel.
What is a red giant?
When a massive star runs out of fuel, it collapses and then explodes in this spectacular event.
What is a supernova?
Most stars belong to this group on the HR diagram.
What is the main sequence?
This fundamental force is responsible for the formation of stars, planets, and even our entire solar system.
What is gravity?
What do Astronomers believe the center of every galaxy contains?
What is a supermassive black hole?
After a red giant sheds its outer layers, it leaves behind this "ghostly" cloud of gas and dust.
What is a planetary nebula?
This is a final stage for a massive star; it is so dense that it collapses every proton into this neutral particle.
What is a neutron star?
As you move from right to left on the x-axis of an H-R Diagram, the star’s temperature does this.
What is increases (gets hotter)?
Stars are primarily made of this element, which they use as fuel during the main sequence stage.
What is hydrogen?
What are the three types of galaxies?
What are elliptical, spiral, and irregular?
This is the final, white-hot, dense core left behind at the very end of an average star’s life cycle.
What is a white dwarf?
If a star is massive enough, its gravity is so strong that not even light can escape its pull.
What is a black hole?
These stars are found at the very top right of the H-R diagram because they are both very bright and relatively cool.
What are Supergiants (or Giants)?
This is the process where two lighter atoms join to form a heavier one, releasing massive amounts of energy.
What is Nuclear Fusion?
Describe the location of our solar system in our galaxy
Where is on the Orion arm of the Milky way about 2/3 out from the center.
Compared to high-mass stars, low-mass stars have a lifespan that is much _______.
What is longer? (They burn fuel slower).
What is the correct order for the life cycle of a high-mass star?
Stellar Nebula → Protostar → Main Sequence → Red Supergiant → Supernova → Neutron Star/Black Hole
On an H-R Diagram, stars that are hot but dim are found in this corner (usually White Dwarfs).
What is the lower left?