the dramatic lives of stars - national optical … dramatic lives of stars with images from...

The Dramatic Lives of Stars

with images from "The Universe at your Fingertips 2.0" Astronomical Society of the Pacific

The Sun

The Sun

Carina Nebula

Orion Nebula

Pleiades

Main Sequence Star: Sun

SOHO movies The Solar Heliospheric Observatory

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/Movies/movies2.html http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/images/

SOHO movies The Solar Heliospheric Observatory

Main Sequence Stars

Albireo

Color is linked to temperature. Red=?, Blue=?

Color is linked to temperature. Red=cooler, Blue=hotter

Main Sequence Stars

Albireo

Where does a star’s energy come from on the main sequence?

Nuclear fusion fuels stars

Nuclear fusion fuels stars

Almost all elements (except hydrogen and some helium) were formed in stars via nuclear fusion

Why doesn't fusion happen on Jupiter, or the Earth?

Aldebaran

Ring Nebula

Red supergiants can form elements as heavy as iron via nuclear fusion

Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse

Supernova 1987A

Crab Nebula

What about planets?

Orion Nebula

Protostar: HH-30

Artist’s Rendition