Stellar streams are created when stars are pulled from one galaxy by another. They are long, thin filaments of stars created by tidal forces. Most are too faint and distant to study, but a dozen have been named. The Arcturus stream is a remnant of a dwarf galaxy devoured by the Milky Way, and the […]
Stellar evolution involves the formation, burning, and death of stars, which can be observed through various stages on a graph. Stars form in molecular clouds and evolve based on their chemical composition, eventually dying as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes. The Sun is a main-sequence star that will become a red giant in […]
Stellar wind is gas ejected from a star’s atmosphere, with different types of stars producing different types of winds. Radiation pressure is a driving force. Mass loss is part of a star’s life cycle. The sun’s wind is loaded with electrons and protons. Post-main-sequence stars have slower winds with more matter, while hot bright stars […]
Stellar nucleosynthesis creates most elements in the periodic table. The Big Bang created 80% hydrogen and 20% helium. Proton-proton chain and CNO cycle are types of hydrogen burning. Heavier elements are formed through alpha, carbon, neon, oxygen, and silicon burning. A star can collapse into a neutron star or black hole. Stellar nucleosynthesis is the […]
