A star is born.

General physics and astronomy discussions not directly related to Celestia
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MKruer
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Joined: 18.09.2002
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A star is born.

Post #1by MKruer » 10.06.2008, 21:22

I have been looking around for some specific information on star formation during the final stages. When a star ignites it pushes away all the gasses that were in the process of forming the star. If this is correct then what else happens to distinguish between a Red Dwarf and a Blue Giant. The ignition should be fairly consistent in terms of mass.

I have an idea but I am looking for some additional verification. From my understanding about star formation, is that as a nebulous cloud collapses at some point forms a proto star. At the center when the pressure is great enough ignition occur. Hydrogen forms into helium. Well give that the star density at the core. It will take a few million year for the reactions to reach the surface and consequential push the remaining falling gas away, leaving a typical star.

If this is true then what distinguishes a red dwarf from a blue giant is the amount of gas falling into the star after the proto star stage but before the core reactions reach the surface.

Is this correct?

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selden
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Re: A star is born.

Post #2by selden » 10.06.2008, 21:50

That's consistent with what I know, but I think you'll get more authoritative answers from an astronomy related Web Forum like http://www.bautforum.com/questions-answers/
Selden


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