Transcript The Sun and Other Stars

• A star is:
– a huge ball of
burning and
exploding gases
which gives off
heat and light
– it burns for millions
of years
• Star at the center of
the solar system
• Huge ball of very hot
gases, mostly hydrogen
and helium
• Source of almost all of
the energy on Earth
(plants, wind, weather)
• Brightness of a star
• Apparent magnitude – how
bright it seems to be from
Earth, due to their
distance from the sun
• Absolute magnitude – how
bright a star really is
• Color of a star is a clue
to its surface
temperature
• Blue stars = hottest
temperature
• Red stars = coolest
temperature
• Main sequence
• A band of stars that
includes most stars of
average color, size,
magnitude, and
temperature
• Nova
– Stars that increase in
brightness in the later
stages of their existence
• Supernova
– A star that explodes
– Last Supernova in our
galaxy was in 1604
• Scientists learn about
stars by studying the
energy waves they send
into space
• Use different kinds of
telescopes