⭐ LIFE OF A STAR
PAGE 1 OF 5 — BIRTH OF A STAR
THE STELLAR NURSERY
EVERY STAR BEGINS AS A CLOUD
Deep in space, enormous clouds of hydrogen gas called nebulae are the birthplaces of all stars. Gravity slowly pulls the gas inward and the cloud begins to collapse and spin. At the centre, temperatures rise to millions of degrees and suddenly nuclear fusion ignites. A new star blazes to life, pouring out energy that will last for billions of years.
🌌 STELLAR NURSERY NEARBY
The Orion Nebula, visible to the naked eye, is actively forming new stars right now, 1,344 light-years away. The Pillars of Creation inside the Eagle Nebula are columns of gas 4 to 5 light-years tall where new stars are being sculpted at this very moment.
IGNITION!
PROTOSTAR
🌞 Gas cloud collapses under its own gravity
🔥 Core heats up from compression alone
⏱️ Protostar phase can last millions of years
🔥 Core heats up from compression alone
⏱️ Protostar phase can last millions of years
FUSION BEGINS
⚛️ Hydrogen fuses into helium at 10 million degrees
⚡ Energy released pushes outward against gravity
⭐ The star enters the main sequence: stable for billions of years
⚡ Energy released pushes outward against gravity
⭐ The star enters the main sequence: stable for billions of years