How are stars born?
Stars are born within clouds of gas and dust which have extremely high density. These clouds are commonly known as nebulae. A star will be born due to the turbulence deep within these clouds which causes them to collapse under their own gravitational attraction. As these clouds collapse, the material within begins to heat up. This extremely hot matter consisting of dust and gas generates into a new born star as the process of nuclear fusion begins. This is where the hydrogen stored begins to fuse and turn into helium. Although some particles can remain and form into planets, comets and asteroids. Massive stars are born just like average stars. The creation of a massive star will depend on the size of the nebula. A star is considered 'massive' when it is at least eight times the size of our sun. Nebulae What is a nebula and how are they formed? A nebula is an interstellar cloud in outer space made up of dust, hydrogen, helium and multiple other gases. They are formed when the portions of the interstellar medium collapse and join together due to the gravitational attraction of the particles. Nebulae can vary in shapes and size. Nebula's are responsible for the creation of stars and planets. Different types of nebulae: Emission Nebulae: Emission nebulae are extremely hot and are found to glow pink or red due to them being filled with large amounts of hydrogen. Reflection Nebulae: Reflection nebulae are sometimes visible with the unaided eye and they generally appear to be blue in colour as they reflect the light of nearby stars. Planetary Nebulae: Planetary nebulae occur when stars near the end of their life. Planetary nebulae can be seen in telescopes and often look like small planets. Dark Nebulae: Dark nebulae are simply clouds of dust which block light from incoming sources. They are physically very similar to Reflection nebulae, although they are different as they do not reflect large amounts of light. Stellar Nebulae / Supernova Remnants: A Stellar nebulae or supernova remnants emit brilliant waves of light and are formed by the explosive death of a massive star (supernova). |
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