ExploraTour: A Peek into the Lives of the Stars

(Click on the pictures to find out.)

What Happens to Stars About the Same Size as the Sun?

New Stars and Planets

Swells to Red Giant

Outer Layers Blow Off

White Dwarf Left

Cools to Black Dwarf

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ExploraTour: A Peek into the Lives of the Stars

What Happens to Low Mass Stars (< 8 solar masses)? STAGE 1: Main Sequence A star's life begins when nuclear reactions start deep in the core. Hydrogen nuclei are fused to form a helium nucleus. Each helium...more

ExploraTour: A Peek into the Lives of the Stars

STAGE 4: White Dwarf When the fuel is used up, there is nothing to hold the star's layers up against gravity and the star begins to collapse. Gravity squeezes the star down into a very small size. As...more

ExploraTour: A Peek into the Lives of the Stars

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ExploraTour - Looking at the World in a Different Light

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All warm objects radiate in the infrared. The warmer the object, the higher the frequency and intensity of the radiation. Very hot objects give off other types of radiation in addition to infrared. Click...more

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