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Astronomy for Kids

Stars

Stars
A cluster of stars called the Pleiades.
Source: NASA.
What is a star?

Stars are giant spheres of superhot gas made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. Stars get so hot by burning hydrogen into helium in a process called nuclear fusion. This is what makes them so hot and bright. Our Sun is a star.

Lifecycle of a star
Stars form from nebulae
The Horsehead Nebula.
Stars form from massive clouds of dust called nebulae.
Author: ESA/Hubble [CC 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0]

Types of Stars

There are many different types of stars. Stars that are in their main sequence (normal stars) are categorized by their color. The smallest stars are red and don't give off much of a glow. Medium size stars are yellow, like the Sun. The largest stars are blue and are hugely bright. The larger the main sequence star, the hotter and brighter they are.

Dwarfs - Smaller stars are called dwarf stars. Red and yellow stars are generally called dwarfs. A brown dwarf is one that never quite got large enough for nuclear fusion to occur. A white dwarf is the remnants of the collapse of a red giant star.

Giants - Giant stars may be main sequence stars like a blue giant, or stars that are expanding like red giants. Some supergiant stars are as big as the entire Solar System!

Neutrons - A neutron star is created from the collapse of a giant star. It's very tiny, but very dense.

Cross Section of the Inside of the Sun
Cross Section of a star like the Sun. Source: NASA

Fun facts about Stars Activities

More Astronomy Subjects

The Sun and Planets
Solar System
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto

Universe
Universe
Stars
Galaxies
Black Holes
Asteroids
Meteors and Comets
Sunspots and Solar Wind
Constellations
Solar and Lunar Eclipse

Other
Telescopes
Astronauts
Space Exploration Timeline
Space Race
Nuclear Fusion
Astronomy Glossary

Science >> Physics >> Astronomy


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