Short Wave Some Stars Explode As They Die. We Look At Their Life Cycle
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Jun 25, 2024 Sarafina El-Badry Nance, an astrophysicist known for her expertise in supernovas, dives into the mystical lives of stars. She unpacks the fascinating life cycle of Betelgeuse, from its birth in molecular clouds to its impending explosion. Learn about the upcoming nova event in T Coronae Borealis, and discover how stars evolve and end their lives in spectacular fashion. Sarafina connects these cosmic events with human experiences, revealing the beauty and drama of the universe beyond our planet.
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Star Life Cycle and Mass
- A star's life cycle depends primarily on its mass, similar to how smaller dogs often live longer than larger dogs.
- Low-mass stars have different fates than high-mass stars.
Star Formation
- Stars are born in giant molecular clouds, which are like stellar nurseries.
- Gravity causes gas and dust to clump, forming protostars, which eventually ignite fusion.
Star Clusters and Binary Systems
- Stars often form in groups within the same molecular cloud, as seen in the Pleiades star cluster in the Taurus constellation.
- Some stars split off, while others remain together, forming binary or trinary systems.