Stellar Evolution

Stellar Evolution

What do you
need to know
about Stellar
Evolution?
Stellar Evolution

What do you
need to know
about Stellar
Evolution?

Let’s look at each

section in turn
Stellar Evolution
Space – the final
frontier
Stellar Evolution
Space – the final
frontier
In the known Universe
there are billions of
galaxies
Stellar Evolution
Space – the final
frontier
It hurts my
In the known Universe head just to
there are billions of think about it!

galaxies
And in each galaxy
there are billions of
stars
Stellar Evolution
Space – the final
frontier
It hurts my
In the known Universe head just to
there are billions of think about it!

galaxies
And in each galaxy
there are billions of
stars This is the story of
how a star is born
Stellar Evolution

1. Nebula Stars like our Sun are

formed from large clouds
of dust and gas particles
we call nebulae or stellar
nebulae. This is the
Omega Nebula.
Stellar Evolution

2. Protostar Gravity pulls dust and gas

together to form a protostar.
The star gets denser, particles
collide and the temperature
increases. At a high enough
temperature hydrogen nuclei
undergo nuclear fusion, to
form helium nuclei. The
energy produced keeps the
core of the star very hot.
Stellar Evolution

3. Main sequence star The star now enters a long stable

period – our Sun is at this stage.
Outward pressure caused by nuclear
fusion tries to expand the star. This is
balanced by the force of gravity
pulling everything inwards. This stable
period may last several billion years.
Stellar Evolution

4. Red giant When the hydrogen begins to

run out, if it is a small star like
our Sun, it swells and a Red
Giant is formed. It becomes
red because the surface cools.
Heavier elements are formed
in the core of the star.

Betelgeuse – my
favourite Red Giant
star!
Stellar Evolution

5. White dwarf Eventually the red

giant star becomes
unstable and ejects its
outer layer of dust and
gas, leaving behind a
hot, dense solid core –
a white dwarf
Stellar Evolution

6. Black dwarf White dwarfs emit less

energy as they cool
down. A black dwarf
forms when it no longer
emits a significant
amount of energy.
Stellar Evolution

7. Red super giant Stars much bigger than

our Sun form Red Super
Giants. These glow
brightly, undergoing
more fusion, forming
heavier elements such
as iron
Stellar Evolution

8. Supernova Eventually red super

giants explode in a
supernova, forming
elements heavier than
iron and releasing them
into space to form new
planets and stars
Stellar Evolution

9. Neutron star The exploding supernova

throws out into space the
outer dust and gas layers,
leaving a very dense core,
called a Neutron Star.
Stellar Evolution

10. Black hole If the star is massive

enough then it will
become a Black Hole.
Not even light can
escape from this super
dense point in space.
Stellar Evolution
Let’s now follow the stellar
journey……
Stellar Evolution
In the beginning
 Stellar Evolution
In the beginning

Stars about the

Stars much bigger
same size as our
than the Sun
Sun
 Stellar Evolution
In the beginning

Stars about the

Stars much bigger
same size as our
than the Sun
Sun
 Stellar Evolution
In the beginning

Stars about the

Stars much bigger
same size as our
than the Sun
Sun
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
When you look up at the night
sky you may think all stars
look the same. But they have
differences:
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
When you look up at the night
sky you may think all stars
look the same. But they have
differences:

They They have

have different
different levels of
brightness
colours

They
appear to
be different
sizes
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
The colours of the stars tell us
about their temperatures
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
The colours of the stars tell us
about their temperatures

A very hot
star emits
more blue in
its spectrum
and therefore
looks blue.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
The colours of the stars tell us
about their temperatures

A very hot
star emits A medium
more blue in star like our
its spectrum Sun looks
and therefore yellow.
looks blue.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
The colours of the stars tell us
about their temperatures

A very hot
star emits A medium
more blue in star like our Cooler stars
its spectrum Sun looks appear red.
and therefore yellow.
looks blue.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
The colours of the stars tell us
about their temperatures
Scientists have created seven different
groups of stars, depending upon their
temperature.

A very hot
star emits A medium
more blue in star like our Cooler stars
its spectrum Sun looks appear red.
and therefore yellow.
looks blue.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
O and B are the
hottest stars Surface
Star classification Colour
and K and M are temperature / K
the coolest. O More than 33 000 Blue
B 33 000 – 10 000 Blue-white
A 10 000 – 7 500 White
F 7 500 – 6 000 Yellow-white
G 6 000 – 5 200 Yellow
K 5 200 – 3 700 Orange
M 3 700 – 2 000 Red
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Astronomers describe the
brightness of a star in three
different ways:
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Astronomers describe the
brightness of a star in three
different ways:

The apparent brightness or

magnitude of a star – a measure of
how bright is as seen from the Earth.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Astronomers describe the
brightness of a star in three
different ways:

The apparent brightness or

magnitude of a star – a measure of
how bright is as seen from the Earth.

The absolute brightness or magnitude -

how bright stars would appear if the same
distance away from the Earth
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Astronomers describe the
brightness of a star in three
different ways:

The apparent brightness or

magnitude of a star – a measure of
how bright is as seen from the Earth.

The absolute brightness or magnitude -

how bright stars would appear if the same
distance away from the Earth

The luminosity of a star. This measures

how much energy in the form of light is
released from the star’s surface every
second.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Lastly, we have the Hertzsprung-
Russell diagram (HR diagram).
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Lastly, we have the Hertzsprung- Wow – looks a bit complex.
Russell diagram (HR diagram). Let’s go through it slowly!
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Lastly, we have the Hertzsprung- Wow – looks a bit complex.
Russell diagram (HR diagram). Let’s go through it slowly!
The two scientists discovered the
relationship between brightness,
temperature and classification of a
star.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Lastly, we have the Hertzsprung- Wow – looks a bit complex.
Russell diagram (HR diagram). Let’s go through it slowly!
The two scientists discovered the
relationship between brightness,
temperature and classification of a
star.
For example, Sirius is found in the
main sequence belt, and is a star
similar to our Sun. Fusion
reactions are taking place
between hydrogen nuclei in its
core, and the next stage will see
Sirius become a red giant.
Stellar Evolution
Star Classification
Lastly, we have the Hertzsprung- Wow – looks a bit complex.
Russell diagram (HR diagram). Let’s go through it slowly!
The two scientists discovered the
relationship between brightness,
temperature and classification of a
star.
In the supergiant region of the
diagram we find Rigel. Having
passed through the main
sequence part of its life, reactions
at its core are between helium
nuclei. Eventually it will become
a neutron star or a black hole.
Stellar Evolution

Have we covered
everything you
need to know?
Stellar Evolution

Have we covered
everything you
need to know?
Stellar Evolution

Have we covered
everything you
need to know?
Stellar Evolution

Have we covered
everything you
need to know?
Stellar Evolution

Have we covered
everything you
need to know?
Stellar Evolution

Have we covered
everything you
need to know?

Absolutely!
Stellar Evolution