The Life Cycle of a Star

This scene brings together models of different stages in the life cycle of a star, from their formation in a Nebula, through the Main Sequence stage, and finally showing different futures for lower mass or higher-mass stars. Students can walk the pathways showing the changes that occur in one star and how different it appears at different stages of its life.

# Learning objectives

1: To understand how stars form and what happens during the Main Sequence stage.{.info}

2: To describe the stages of life after the Main Sequence stage of lower mass stars.{.info}

3: To describe the stages of life after the Main Sequence stage of higher mass stars.{.info}

# Star Formation and Early Life{.objective .objective1}

A brief description of how stars form in a Nebula. Students are asked to enter the scene and observe the Protostar within the Nebula.

# Main Sequence Star{.objective .objective2}

A brief definition how stars change hydrogen nuclei into helium through nuclear fusion, releasing energy in the process. The Sun is currently in its Main Sequence stage. Students are asked to enter the scene and find and observe the Main Sequence stage.

# Final Stages of Lower-mass Stars{.objective .objective3}

A description of the changes of a star through Red Giant stage, how Planetary Nebulae are created, and how the stars end their lives as a Black Dwarf. Students are asked to enter the scene and follow the pathway from Main Sequence stage of a lower-mass star, making observations of the final Black Dwarf stage.

# Final Stages of High-mass Stars{.objective .objective4}

A description of the changes following Main Sequence stage for higher-mass stars, from Supernova explosion to Neutron Stars or Black Holes. Students are asked to follow the pathway of a higher-mass star.