Stages #1
I am highly concentrated matter and I spin. Gravity beneath me is so strong that not even light can escape. At the largest, I can be 66 billion times larger than the Sun.
Black hole
I am the bright (but not brightest) outburst of an exploding star. I reach a maximum luminosity up to 100,000 times my normal level following my outburst. My temperature can reach millions of degrees Celsius.
Nova
I am 100-1,000 times wider than the Sun and my temperature is only half as hot as the Sun (2,200 to 3,200 degrees Celsius). I become unstable when my core runs out of helium (fusion stops), as my core shrinks and a helium shell ignites.
Red giant
Zero-age main sequence is when a star first burns hydrogen in its core through fusion reactions and joins the main sequence. The main sequence is where it remains most of its life and is stable.
The difference between zero-age main sequence and main sequence
My mass is typically 0.075 times the Sun's mass. I appear from dark red to magenta (depending on temperature), despite my name. My temperature can reach 2,800 K.
Brown dwarf
I am the brightest outburst of an exploding star. I can reach a luminosity millions of times brighter than my normal level. I release large amounts of radio waves, X-rays, cosmic rays, and gamma rays.
Supernova
I am about 0.5*Mass of Sun. I am about the size of Earth, but 200,000 times as dense. I cannot create internal pressure so gravity compacts me inward.
White dwarf
A steady state of a star where pressure balances gravity and energy generation balances energy loss.
Thermo-gravitational equilibrium
I am the incredibly dense region within a molecular cloud. I can become as cold as 10 K (nearly absolute zero!).
Cloud core
I am incredibly dense and 12 miles in diameter. I am surrounded by a very strong magnetic field. I rotate rapidly and I emit radio waves.
Neutron star
A density point where neutrons can't be packed any closer together, resulting in a neutron star.
Neutron degeneracy
I am a large complex of gas and dust. I am composed of mostly molecular hydrogen. My diameter can range from 1 light-year to 300 light-years. I am surrounded by an ionized region.
Giant molecular cloud
I am a shell of luminous gas. My radius is about 1 light-year and I am roughly 0.3*Mass of Sun. I appear round and compact.
Planetary nebula
A pressure created by fast moving electrons that are forced into high energy levels. This prevents white dwarfs from collapsing.
Electron degeneracy
I fuse hydrogen to form helium in my core. My outward pressure produced by fusion balances the inward pressure caused by gravity. My mass can range from 0.1*Mass of Sun to 200*Mass of Sun.
Main sequence star
I am surrounded by dust which blocks the light I emit. My core is not quite hot enough for fusion to occur. I rotate, producing a magnetic field and an outward flow of particles.
Protostar
The maximum mass a white dwarf can reach caused by the highest possible electron degeneracy pressure.
Chandrasekhar limit