It’s cold outside, so let’s warm-up!!

 What is the difference between the

apparent magnitude and the
absolute magnitude of a star??
How stars SHINE!!!!!

Please put your warm-up away

and get out your note sheet!
How stars FORM

Nebula-
A large cloud in space The space between
containing dust, stars is called
hydrogen gas, helium interstellar space and
gas and plasma. it contains mostly gas
and dust. It’s density is
extremely low-
*Stars are formed in approximately 1 atom
nebulae per cc.
Components of Nebulae
 The dust in a Nebula is not
like house dust, it’s made
up of much smaller
particles that typically
includes carbon and
silicate molecules
 These beautiful regions of nebula, the
formation of gas, dust and other materials
clump together to form larger masses
which attract more matter and eventually
get big enough to form a star.

 Here are some examples…

 This picture was
taken from the
Hubble Telescope,
it’s called “NGC-
604” and is located
in a neighbor spiral
galaxy of ours, 2.7
million light years
away from us.
These are the star
forming “Pillars of
Creation” spotted
by the Hubble
Telescope.
 Many Nebula form from the gravitational
collapse of gas in the interstellar medium
(ISM).
 As the material collapses under it’s own
weight, stars may form in the center.

 Here are some examples…

This is the Rosetta
Nebula in the
Monoceros region
of our galaxy- the
Milky way!

It is 5,200 light years

from Earth.

It is roughly 130 ly in
diameter.

It’s mass = 10,000

solar masses!
Wow!
 This is the Flame
Nebula located in
the constellation of
Orion.
The heart of the
nebula is usually
hidden by the dust
but this image was
taken in IR light and
it’s beauty was
exposed!
 Some nebula are the result of supernova
explosions (the death of short lived
massive stars.)

 Example…
 This is the Crab Nebula in the Constellation of Taurus. This
Nebula is actually visible with the naked eye on a clear night.
 Some Nebula are called “Dark Nebula”
and seem to be the creepers of the bunch
(if you ask me), they tend to look a little
more scary.

 Such as…..
 This is a dark nebula called “Horse Head”
It’s so dense that it obscures light from behind it.
 And our last beauty for the day:
 Planetary Nebula- These are the gaseous
shells that are ejected as giant stars
transform into white dwarfs.

 Example…
This is called the Helix Nebula (Planetary Nebula)
This is the Eskimo Nebula (planetary Nebula)
Cat Eye
Nebula
The Life of a Star…
1. Protostar- born in a 3. Red giant/supergiant-
nebula, gases come when stars run out of
together and begin fuel, the outside
nuclear fusion. expands and the inside
2. Star- the phase where contracts.
the star burns fuel. The 4. White Dwarf-One
more massive the star, possible outcome. The
the shorter it’s lifespan! remainder of a star,
after the outer layer
expands away.
The Life of a Star…
5. Super Nova- If a star 7. Black Hole- The most
doesn’t become a white
dwarf, it will supernova
(aka- explode!)
6. Neutron Star- What’s
left after a supernova
(suuuuper dense core)
massive pre-supernova
stars may become
black holes after they
supernova. The density
reaches extreme highs
and pulls everything
inward to the point
where light cannot
even escape!
How do stars produce light??
Stars emit TONS of energy!!

We can see some of it in the form of visible

light.

When the temperature of a protostar (star

beginning to form) gets hot enough Nuclear
FUSION occurs.
How do stars produce light??
 Stars produce light by Nuclear FUSION.

 This is when two atomic nuclei combine to

form a larger nucleus with a higher mass.

 (ex: hydrogen becomes helium)

 These guys can explain it better than me

 What about Nuclear Fusion as an
alternative source of power?
 Let’s see what these guys have to say
about it…