What is a young star that glows as gravity makes it collapse?

Answer 1

Only one thing... a gas cloud, even though the shape, size and composition of the cloud may vary. As a galaxy rotates, different gravitational effects can begin the process of gascloud contraction whereby a star (or stars) can form out of it. Another instigator of star formation is the presence of a shockwave from a supernova.

Whatever the cause, the end result is a process of positive feedback. The material in the gas cloud, previously too rarefied to 'do anything' can now start to mass together; and since gravity depends upon mass, this increased gravitational pull thus attracts more material, which increases the gravitational attraction...

Often, especially if the cloud is large, not one, but many stars will form. In that case you will eventually get an open cluster. Over many millions of years, galactic rotation will usually distort the shape of these clusters and all sense of visual clustering will be lost, although we can still identify the members due to their similar spatial motions. Thus, many of the stars of Ursa Major, Leo Minor and Lynx are actually related, since they are at similar distances from us and have similar proper motions.

Answer 2

A young star that glows as gravity makes it collapse is called a protostar. During this stage of stellar evolution, a protostar emits light and heat generated from the energy released as it contracts under its own gravity. Eventually, the protostar will reach a stable state and start nuclear fusion, becoming a main sequence star.

Answer 3

Anything that is a star now is something that

has already collapsed to form a star.

Answer 4

Sun.