Written by By SpaceBee
What are Stars?
Stars are astrological objects, made of various gasses, like hydrogen or helium. Stars are held together by their own gravity. When stars die they supernova (Suddenly increasing their brightness due to an explosion, causing them to lose most of their mass). Stars often take millions of years to supernova. Many say a supernova happens every 10 seconds.
Recognizable Stars
- The Sun – Closest star to earth; the star in our solar system
- Polaris – Also known as the North star; used for navigation
- Sirius – The brightest star in the night sky; Actually a binary star system consisting of Sirius A (the bright one) and Sirius B (the dimmer one)
- Betelgeuse – Pronounced Beetlejuice (Yes, like the film); One of the largest/brightest stars in the sky
There are many cool stars, so don’t be afraid to look up more!
Fun Facts About Stars
- Astronomers estimate that there are billions of stars in the Milky Way (Our galaxy)
- Smaller stars last longer than larger stars
- Often recognized as basic building blocks of a galaxy
- Stars are born in clouds of dust
- Stars are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in their interiors
- Stars can span a large range of colors
