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Why is there a lower mass limit of 0.08 solar-masses for main-sequence stars?
Below about 0.08 solar masses an object will not be able to ignite nuclear fusion. There may be small amounts of deuterium fusion, but it is not sustainable. Objects between 0.08 solar masses and about 13 Jupiter masses are called brown dwarfs.
What is the difference between stars that become white dwarfs stars that become neutron stars and stars that become black holes?
The difference is in mass. Low to medium mass stars (up to about 8-10 solar masses) become white dwarfs. Massive stars (10 to 25 solar masses) become neutron stars. Stars above 25 solar masses tend to become black holes.
Why do theorists place an upper limit of 500 solar masses on Population III stars?
Theorists place an upper limit of 500 solar masses on Population III stars because stars with masses above this limit would not be able to form due to the intense radiation pressure and energy generated during their formation process. This limit is based on the physical constraints of how stars are able to form and evolve.
How big and small can a star be?
Stars can range in size from tiny neutron stars that are only a few kilometers in diameter to supergiant stars that can be hundreds of times larger than our sun. The smallest stars are about 80 times the mass of Jupiter, while the largest stars can have masses that are over 100 times that of our sun.
Does 600 billion solar masses equal to 600 billion stars?
Not necessarily. In simplest form, 600 billion solar masses simply means that something is 600 billion times more massive than the sun, regardless of what it is. The sun is more massive than the average star, so if we are talking about stars alone, then 600 billion masses would be equivalent to more than 600 billion stars. It would also depend on what the context is. For example if a galaxy is 600 billion solar masses, much of that mass would be in interstellar gas and dust clouds in addition to stars.
Why is there a lower mass limit of 0.08 solar-masses for main-sequence stars?
Below about 0.08 solar masses an object will not be able to ignite nuclear fusion. There may be small amounts of deuterium fusion, but it is not sustainable. Objects between 0.08 solar masses and about 13 Jupiter masses are called brown dwarfs.
What happen to a large star?
Supernova. Stars below nine solar masses become white dwarfs, though stars more than 1.4 solar masses (Chandrasekhar limit) should nova during their life time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrasekhar_limit
What is the difference between stars that become white dwarfs stars that become neutron stars and stars that become black holes?
The difference is in mass. Low to medium mass stars (up to about 8-10 solar masses) become white dwarfs. Massive stars (10 to 25 solar masses) become neutron stars. Stars above 25 solar masses tend to become black holes.
Does 1 billion solar masses equal to 1 billion stars?
Not exactly; stars come in different sizes; or in this case, different masses. In fact, the large majority of stars are red dwarves, which are smaller - and less massive - than the Sun; therefore, I would suspect that a billion stars (randomly selected - or perhaps all the stars in a small galaxy) would have a bit LESS than a billion solar masses. A "solar mass" is simply a convenient way to visualize large masses; for example, for a supergalactic black hole, "a billion solar masses" is easier to visualize than "2 times 10 to the power 39 kilograms".
Why do theorists place an upper limit of 500 solar masses on Population III stars?
Theorists place an upper limit of 500 solar masses on Population III stars because stars with masses above this limit would not be able to form due to the intense radiation pressure and energy generated during their formation process. This limit is based on the physical constraints of how stars are able to form and evolve.
How big and small can a star be?
Stars can range in size from tiny neutron stars that are only a few kilometers in diameter to supergiant stars that can be hundreds of times larger than our sun. The smallest stars are about 80 times the mass of Jupiter, while the largest stars can have masses that are over 100 times that of our sun.
Which stars are giant stars?
Supergiants are the most massive stars, occupy the top region of Hertzsprung-russell diagram . Supergiants can have 10 to 70 solar masses and luminosity up to hundreds of thousands times the solar luminosity and because of their large masses they have lifespan of few million years and may be less than this value .
Why are there no stars with masses less than 0.08 M?
There are no stars smaller than 0.08 Msun because any object smaller than that is not able to become hot enough to burn hydrogen in their cores. The brightest star in the Earth's sky is called Sirius.
Does 600 billion solar masses equal to 600 billion stars?
Not necessarily. In simplest form, 600 billion solar masses simply means that something is 600 billion times more massive than the sun, regardless of what it is. The sun is more massive than the average star, so if we are talking about stars alone, then 600 billion masses would be equivalent to more than 600 billion stars. It would also depend on what the context is. For example if a galaxy is 600 billion solar masses, much of that mass would be in interstellar gas and dust clouds in addition to stars.
What unit do astronomers use to measure the masses of stars and star like objects in the universe?
The official unit for mass in science (and elsewhere), of course, is the kilogram. In astronomy, for ease of comparison, the masses of stars, and even galaxies, are often expressed in "solar masses", meaning multiples of the mass of our Sun.
What is a main sequence star with less than 0.4 solar masses?
A main sequence star with less than 0.4 solar masses would be classified as a red dwarf star. These stars are the smallest and coolest main sequence stars, with longer lifespans compared to higher mass stars. They are the most common type of star in the universe.
How big is the stars in your galaxy?
Our galaxy, the milky way, has stars much bigger than our sun. Our sun is considered one solar mass in it's size. The Milky Way has star that range from 1/2 a solar mass to 50 or 100 solar masses.
