1.3: Stars and our Sun
supernova
A gigantic explosion in which a massive star collapses and throws its outer layers into space
star
A mass of gas and plasma held together by its own gravity that produces its own light through nuclear fusion
main sequence star
A normal star that is undergoing nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. Our sun is a typical main sequence star.
white dwarf
A small, hot, dim star that is the leftover center of an old star
red giant
A star that expands and cools once it runs out of hydrogen fuel
sun
A typical star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system.
nuclear fusion
The process by which hydrogen atoms join together to form helium, releasing energy. How stars produce their energy
nebula
a collection of gas and dust that is the birth place of stars
sun spot
a dark spot on the sun, which is cool by contrast to the surrounding area
black hole
final stage in the evolution of a very massive star, where the core's mass collapses to a point that its gravity is so strong that not even light can escape
neutron star
the small, dense remains of a high-mass star after a supernova
luminosity
the true brightness of an object