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Stars & Galaxies

Life Cycle of Stars

From nebula to red giant to white dwarf or supernova — the birth, life and death of stars

Universe 🌌 1950 Stars & Galaxies

Key Facts

  1. 1

    Stars form in nebulae (gas/dust clouds); fuse hydrogen → helium for billions of years on the "main sequence"

  2. 2

    Massive stars explode as supernovae, creating heavy elements; remnants become neutron stars or black holes

  3. 3

    Our Sun is a yellow dwarf; red dwarfs are the most common star (70% of all stars); blue supergiants are the rarest and hottest

🌌 Did you know? "We are all made of star stuff" — Carl Sagan; every atom in your body heavier than hydrogen was forged inside a star

Quick Reference

Category

Stars & Galaxies

Region

🌌 Universe

Year / Era

1950

About

From nebula to red giant to white dwarf or supernova — the birth, life and death of stars