Star Formation & Fuel A
This cloud of gas and dust is the birthplace of all stars, pulled together by gravity.
stellar nebula
Our Sun is considered to be this type of star, based on its mass.
a low-mass or medium-mass star
This is the name for the graph that plots stars' luminosity and temperature.
the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (or HR-Diagram)
What can we tell by looking at a color of a star
the temperature
Where is our solar system located within our galaxy?
In Orion's Arm in the elbow of the arm
This is the longest and most stable phase of a star's life, where it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core.
the main sequence
This is the single most important factor that determines a star's lifespan and its final fate.
the stars mass
The property that is plotted on the X-axis of the HR-Diagram and is represented by a star's color
surface temperature
Located in the top-right of the diagram, these stars are very large and bright, but cool and red in color
red giants or supergiants
This is the most common galaxy shape, which has a rotating disk with spiral arms extending from a central bulge
Spiral
After using up the hydrogen in its core, our Sun will expand into this large, cool star. Which one
red giant
This is the massive, bright-red star that forms from a high-mass star after its main sequence stage.
red supergiant
Plotted on the Y-axis, this is a measure of a star's actual brightness or energy output
luminosity (or absolute magnitude)
ound in the bottom-left of the diagram, these stars are incredibly hot but very dim and small
white dwarfs
This type of galaxy is shaped like a giant sphere or flattened oval and contains mostly older stars with little to no new star formation
Elliptical Galaxy
This beautiful, colorful cloud of gas is formed when a low-mass star sheds its outer layers at the end of its life.
planetary nebula
This cataclysmic stellar explosion marks the end of a high-mass star and creates and scatters heavy elements throughout the universe.
What is a supernova
This diagonal band contains about 90% of all stars, including our Sun, and represents the longest stage of a star's life.
the main sequence
A star in the upper-left corner of the HR-Diagram would have this color, indicating a very high surface temperature
blue
This is the name of our home galaxy
The Milky Way
This very dense, small object is the remaining core of a low-mass star after it has shed its outer layers.
white dwarf
This is the super-dense core left after a high-mass star collapses in a supernova. It has gravity so strong that even light cannot escape.
black hole
Our Sun's temperature and luminosity will place it on the HR-Diagram in this category for most of its life
main sequence star
A star in the upper-right corner of the HR-Diagram would have this color, indicating a very low surface temperature
red
This type of galaxy has no distinct, regular shape, often due to a collision or gravitational interaction with another galaxy
Irregular Galaxy