Life of a Star
NebulaA cloud of dust and gas in which
new stars form
Nebula
Nebula
Star -uses Hydrogen as fuel
Nebula
Star-uses Hydrogen as fuel
Red Giant -uses Helium as fuel
Red giantStars that begin to expand as they
use up their fuel
Antares Star in the Scorpio Constellation
Betelgeuse Star in Orion Constellation
Aldebaran Star in Taurus Constellation
Nebula
Star -uses Hydrogen as fuel
Red Giant -uses Helium as fuel
White Dwarf -no fuel
White DwarfWhen helium is used up, the outside
layers of gas float off and only the core will remain
NGC 2440 – one of the hottest white dwarfs
Sirius A – 18,000°F
Sirius B – 44,900°F
Nebula
Star -uses Hydrogen as fuel
Red Giant -uses Helium as fuel
White Dwarf -no fuel
Black Dwarf -thermal energy
cools
Black DwarfWhen a white dwarf completely cools down. This is completely
hypothetical.
Nebula
Star -uses Hydrogen as fuel
Red Giant -uses Helium as fuel
White Dwarf -no fuel
Black Dwarf -thermal energy
cools
Supernova
(binary star system)
Nebula
Star -uses Hydrogen as fuel
Red Giant -uses Helium as fuel
White Dwarf -no fuel
Black Dwarf -thermal energy
cools
Supernova
Supernova
(massive star)
(binary star system)
SupernovaWhen a massive star cools, its core will shrink
until it can’t shrink anymore. The sudden stopping sends out shock waves and a huge
explosion
"After" and "Before" pictures of Supernova 1987AClosest and brightest supernova observed in 400 years
SN1987A, pictures taken in 1994
Picture taken in 2004
Animation of SN1987A Supernova
Cassiopeia A Supernova, youngest supernova in Milky Way Galaxy 1667
Crab Nebula exploded in 1054
Nebula
Star -uses Hydrogen as fuel
Red Giant -uses Helium as fuel
White Dwarf -no fuel
Black Dwarf -thermal energy
cools
Supernova
Supernova
(massive star)
(binary star system)Neutron Star -spins -gives out radio waves
“pulsar”
Neutron StarA leftover ball of neutrons after a
supernova
2,000 year old remnants of RCW 103 Supernova
Crab Nebula is the remnants of a supernova explosion. In the center is a neutron star
Nebula
Star -uses Hydrogen as fuel
Red Giant -uses Helium as fuel
White Dwarf -no fuel
Black Dwarf -thermal energy
cools
Supernova
Supernova
(massive star)
(binary star system)Neutron Star -spins -gives out radio waves
“pulsar”
Black Hole
Black HoleAfter a supernova, the remaining core of the star can
shrink into a black hole.
This is a point in space with such a strong force of gravity that nothing within a certain distance of it can escape
getting pulled in, not even light.
This image taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, shows a region at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy that appears to
host a supermassive black hole.
This artist's illustration shows a black hole, together with its whirling disk of matter, hurtling like a cannonball through the disk of our own galaxy.
• http://hubblesite.org/explore_astronomy/black_holes/index.html
The Life Cycle of a Massive Star