• Question: what are stars ?

    Asked by 652rdme38 to Adrian, Gaia, Jim, Scott, Vicky on 10 Mar 2016.
    • Photo: Adrian Buzatu

      Adrian Buzatu answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      Stars are agglomerations of gas made of the simplest atomic elements (hydrogen and helium). Due to the large mass, the centre of the star becomes very dense and hot. The star stars to burn in nuclear fusion, transforming hydrogen in helium and thus releasing a large quantity of energy, some of it in visible light. The start starts shining, sending light, but also heat. That is key for life to exist in the planets that orbit the star.

    • Photo: Scott Lawrie

      Scott Lawrie answered on 11 Mar 2016:

      Stars are both the simplest and most complicated things. Put a big ball of gas in space, add gravity, and you get a star: it really is as simple as that. But what happens when the star starts burning (making heat and light) is a lot more complicated 🙂

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