Stars are massive, luminous spheres of plasma held together by their own gravity.

They're
predominantly composed of hydrogen and helium, and they emit energy through a process called
nuclear fusion. This fusion occurs at their cores, where immense pressure and temperature cause
hydrogen atoms to combine and form helium, releasing an enormous amount of energy in the
process.

The fusion process in stars, particularly in their cores, generates heat and light. It's essentially a
balancing act between the gravitational force pulling the star's material inward and the outward
pressure generated by the fusion reactions. This balance maintains the star's stability and causes it
to shine. The energy released in the form of light and heat is what we perceive from Earth as the
radiant glow of stars.

The life cycle and characteristics of a star depend on its mass. Smaller stars, like our sun, go through
a series of stages: from protostar to main-sequence star, evolving into a red giant and later shedding
their outer layers to form a planetary nebula. Massive stars, on the other hand, can end their lives in
spectacular supernova explosions or collapse into incredibly dense objects like neutron stars or black
holes.