Star Game
Nebula- a huge cloud of gas and dust that begins to shrink under the pull of its own gravity. This stellar nebula is the beginning of all star's lives
Average Star- our sun is an average star that formed from a nebula. It produces its own hear and light by nuclear reactions. These stars live for billions of years before becoming a red giant.
Red Giant- Toward the end of life of an average star, it swells up into a red giant before losing its outer layers in an explosion that creates a planetary nebula.
Planetary Nebula- Don't confuse a planetary nebula with a stellar nebula. a planetary nebula is near the end of an average star's life before it turns into a white dwarf.
White Dwarf- These are small and hot and are the shrunken remains of an average size star. Their nuclear energy supplies have been used up and this is the last stage in the life cycle.
Massive Star- These are the brightest stars that form from a nebula. They are white of blue in color. They can have masses 10-150 times that of the Sun but they live for less than a million years.
Red Supergiant- When a massive star has used up all its nuclear energy it swells up to 1000 times the diameter of the Sun.
Supernova- When gravity overcomes the nuclear energy in a red supergiant, the star begins to collapse, leading to a massive explosion that can remain visible for months.
Black Hole- If an object greater than three times the size of the Sun is left after a supernova, it will become a black hole. The gravitational pull is so great, not even light can escape.
Neutron Star- These may be produced after a supernova explosion. They are small and have faint light so they can't be seen with the naked eye.
Average Star- our sun is an average star that formed from a nebula. It produces its own hear and light by nuclear reactions. These stars live for billions of years before becoming a red giant.
Red Giant- Toward the end of life of an average star, it swells up into a red giant before losing its outer layers in an explosion that creates a planetary nebula.
Planetary Nebula- Don't confuse a planetary nebula with a stellar nebula. a planetary nebula is near the end of an average star's life before it turns into a white dwarf.
White Dwarf- These are small and hot and are the shrunken remains of an average size star. Their nuclear energy supplies have been used up and this is the last stage in the life cycle.
Massive Star- These are the brightest stars that form from a nebula. They are white of blue in color. They can have masses 10-150 times that of the Sun but they live for less than a million years.
Red Supergiant- When a massive star has used up all its nuclear energy it swells up to 1000 times the diameter of the Sun.
Supernova- When gravity overcomes the nuclear energy in a red supergiant, the star begins to collapse, leading to a massive explosion that can remain visible for months.
Black Hole- If an object greater than three times the size of the Sun is left after a supernova, it will become a black hole. The gravitational pull is so great, not even light can escape.
Neutron Star- These may be produced after a supernova explosion. They are small and have faint light so they can't be seen with the naked eye.