WHAT ARE

STARS?
Report: Chella
WHAT IS STAR?
A star is a luminous ball of gas, mostly hydrogen and
helium, held together by its own gravity. Nuclear fusion
reactions in its core support the star against gravity and
produce photons and heat, as well as small amounts of
heavier elements. The Sun is the closest star to Earth.
 Where do stars come from?
•PROTONS AND NEUTRONS:
*the most common particles.
*same size and mass.

•ELECTRONS:
*moves about in the space around the
nucleus.
*much smaller and lighter than protons and
neutrons.
 HYDROGEN AND HELIUM
 Hydrogen and helium are two kinds of atoms
that exist as gases.
HYDROGEN AND HELIUM NUCLEUS
•The high temperatures in the core of a star cause the
atoms to move at incredible speeds, the nuclei sometimes
collide and join to form a single, larger nucleus.

•This process in which two or more nuclei combine to form

one nucleus is called fusion.
 Differences among stars
•Luminosity is the total amount of energy emitted per
unit of time by a star, galaxy, or other astronomical
object.

•Absolute magnitude is a measure of

the luminosity of a celestial object, on
a logarithmic astronomical magnitude scale
Color of stars and star temperature
 Stars also have slightly different colors.

The constellation Orion

 STAR COLORS AND SURFACE
TEMPERATURE
AVERAGE SURFACE
COLOR TEMPERATURE (°C)
EXAMPLES
Blue-white 35,000 Regulus
Rigel
Sirius
10,000 Canopus
White Polaris
6,000 Rigil kent
Yellow Sun
5,000 Aldeberan
Orange arcturus
3,000 Anteres
Red Betelgeuse