Stars are some of the most interesting things to study and there is so much to learn about them. In this post, I will cover the main types of stars, the life of a star, and some interesting facts.
Classification of stars
Most stars are classified though the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. This is an easy way to see what type of star you are looking at based on how hot and bright it is. The band going down the middle is called the main sequence. Most stars, like our sun, are main-sequence stars. On the top right are the Giants, stars that are much bigger than usual. On the bottom left are the dwarfs, the remnants of dead stars.
The life cycle of a star
The life cycle of a star is pretty simple. Our sun will follow the path of an average star over the course of billions of years
What are neutron stars?
A neutron star is what happens when a star explodes and collapses back on itself. These stellar objects spin wildly, almost 1000 times per second, and shoot a jet of X-rays from either pole. These strange objects are the farthest objects that we can detect.
What are binary systems?
Binary systems are what happens when a star orbits another star. The closest star to Earth, Alpha Centauri, is a triple star system, meaning it orbits around two other stars! Interesting things can happen when a small star orbits a large star, a star orbits a neutron star, or when a star orbits a black hole.
Aging stars
Aging stars is tricky business. When stars are in a cluster, it is easier to figure out, because they will all be around the same age. However, when a star is alone, it is impossible to tell. We try to use x-ray data, how a star is moving, where it is on the HR diagram, and how fast it is spinning. At best, these methods can provide ballpark estimates for a star’s age.
Stars are found in clumps called clusters. These clusters are found in larger structures called galaxies. To learn more about galaxies, click here: https://theastroenthusiast.com/all-about-galaxies/.
Do you have any genius ideas on how researchers could age stars? Any other information about stars that you think is important? Let me know in the comments below.
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