STARS AND GALAXIES

IN THE UNIVERSE
 STARS AND GALAXIES
IN THE UNIVERSE

- What do galaxies mean?

- Where is our solar system located?
- How do the formation and deaths of stars happen?
- How do the stars in space differ from each other?
 GALAXIES

- Set of bodies consisting of millions of stars

with gas and dust particles
- Come in many forms :
- Spiral
- Elliptical
- Irregular
TYPES OF GALAXIES
 SPIRAL

Most spiral galaxies

consist of flat, rotating
disk containing stars, gas
and dust

Example: Andromeda
The Milky Way
The Milky Way

• Medium large spiral galaxy

• Our solar system are located at the edge of the
spiral arms of the Milky Way
• Consist of approximately 200 billion stars.
 ELLIPTICAL

Most elliptical galaxies are

composed of older, low-
mass stars

Example: Ursa Major

Messier 87
 IRREGULAR

Some irregular galaxies

were once spiral or
elliptical galaxies.

Example: Small Magellanic Cloud

Large Magellanic Cloud
BIRTH OF STARS
 BIRTH OF STARS

• Stars are form from Nebulae

• Nebulae are large clouds
consisting or dust particles
and gases such as hydrogen
and helium
 BIRTH OF STARS

• The gases and dust particles in

a nebula are pulled by a strong
gravitational force which
causes it to form a globe
 BIRTH OF STARS

• The strong gravitational force

causes the globe of gas to
shrink and compress until it
becomes very dense and
forms a core.
 BIRTH OF STARS

• The core shrinks and become

dense due to the increasing
strength of the gravitational
force
 BIRTH OF STARS

• When the temperature and

pressure in the core become
too high, a nuclear reaction
will take place
 BIRTH OF STARS

• Hydrogen gas turns into

helium and a huge amount of
heat energy and light is
released
 BIRTH OF STARS

• The core will shine, and a star

is formed
• The star that is formed is
known as a protostar
 BIRTH OF STARS

• This new star will continue to

expand and becomes either an
average star like the Sun or a
massive star
DEATH OF STARS
 DEATH OF STARS

• In a star, a lot of heat is

generated which will heat up
the outermost layer of the star.
• As a result, hydrogen within
this layer starts to burn.
 DEATH OF STARS

• This causes the star to expand

• During this stage, the star
appears red in colour and is
called a red giant
 DEATH OF STARS

• If the red giant is not massive,

a white dwarf is formed
 DEATH OF STARS
• However, if the red giant is
big enough, it contracts so
quickly that a big explosion
called a supernova occurs
• A supernova is extremely
bright
• It can be seen in daylight
 DEATH OF STARS

• As a result of the explosion, a

neutron star is formed if the
original star is a large star
 DEATH OF STARS

• If the original star is a super-

large star, a black hole is
formed
 DEATH OF STARS

• It is called a black hole

because light in it cannot
escape
• Any matter that enters it
cannot escape too
LIFE CYCLE OF STARS
LIFE CYCLE OF STARS
CHARACTERISTICS OF STARS
CHARACTERISTICS OF STARS

• Colour
• Size
• Temperature
• Brightness
• Distance
CHARACTERISTICS OF STARS

• Colour
• Size
• Temperature
• Brightness
• Distance
CHARACTERISTICS OF STARS