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A protostar is a young star in the early stages of formation, beginning with a molecular cloud that contracts and fragments. Accretion takes place behind a dense molecular cloud, and the star gains mass and heat before reaching an equilibrium state. Observing protostars is challenging due to the blockage created by the molecular cloud.
A protostar is a young star that is in the early stages of formation, before it reaches the main sequence stage. This stage of star formation can last 100,000 years or more, depending on the size of the star. Astronomers have largely speculated about the protostellar stage, as it is difficult to observe, although the basis for the hypothesis makes sense, given what is known both about stars and the universe at large.
This stage begins with a molecular cloud, a swirling mass of molecules whose composition can vary. The molecular cloud begins to contract and fragment, with each fragment in the cloud having the potential to develop into a star. As the fragments grow, they acquire mass, which increases their gravitational pull, and as a result, they begin to attract other molecules, developing into a protostar. The process of adding mass is known as accretion.
Accretion takes place behind a dense molecular cloud. In fact, visible light inside the cloud is blocked, requiring observation with infrared and other types of imaging equipment to see what’s going on inside. In a protostar, nuclear fusion has not yet occurred and the star is very unstable. The star gains mass and heat as it accretes materials. As it matures, it reaches an equilibrium state, transforming into a pre-main-sequence star that will eventually develop into a main-sequence star once the star begins gaining energy through nuclear reactions.
New stars are constantly being born in the universe, and stars in a wide variety of life stages can be observed by astronomers who have the right equipment and know where to look. The more observations made, the more one can learn about stars and how they work. This information can be used to gather data on the age of star systems and the age of the universe, and to identify areas of the universe that can be observed more closely.
Looking at a protostar is challenging, due to the blockage created by the molecular cloud. In addition to blocking visible light, the cloud can also block other forms of radiation, and the star itself can also become a radiation blocker, making it even harder to spot. Humans have identified a number of areas in the universe where they believe stars are forming, with strong evidence of protostars at these locations, but actually making observations in these areas is difficult.
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