August 23, 2015
White Dwarfs:
When stars the size of our Sun die, they form a small star. These small stars can range in size from the size of the Earth to the size of the Sun. Even though they are very small stars, their mass is much greater. A matchbox full of White Dwarf star material would have a weight similar to that of an elephant. White Dwarfs form after a star the size of our Sun (Or a little bit bigger or smaller) shrinks from a Giant. White Dwarfs can be found in the center of a Planetary Nebula (More on that next week) and will eventually become their own star. White Dwarfs can last for billions of years, so long that we can only theorize what happens to them after they die. The term for a White Dwarf that has died is called a Black Dwarf. A Black Dwarf has never been discovered.
White Dwarfs:
When stars the size of our Sun die, they form a small star. These small stars can range in size from the size of the Earth to the size of the Sun. Even though they are very small stars, their mass is much greater. A matchbox full of White Dwarf star material would have a weight similar to that of an elephant. White Dwarfs form after a star the size of our Sun (Or a little bit bigger or smaller) shrinks from a Giant. White Dwarfs can be found in the center of a Planetary Nebula (More on that next week) and will eventually become their own star. White Dwarfs can last for billions of years, so long that we can only theorize what happens to them after they die. The term for a White Dwarf that has died is called a Black Dwarf. A Black Dwarf has never been discovered.
July 20, 2015
Giants (Stars):
When we think of stars, we often think of stars that are like our Sun. However, not all stars are like our Sun. One group of stars that is different than our Sun is giants. These stars are nearing the end of their lives. These stars are many times larger than the Sun. Some of them can be over a hundred times the size of the Sun! When our Sun grows older, it will become a red giant. Stars large than our Sun can become Supergiants or Hypergiants. These stars are large and when they die, they will form black holes. Stars that are around the size of our Sun will become white dwarfs or stellar nebulas, and stars slightly larger than our Sun will become Neutron Stars. This month, we will be learning about the different types of objects in our Universe, including the types I mentioned above.
Giants (Stars):
When we think of stars, we often think of stars that are like our Sun. However, not all stars are like our Sun. One group of stars that is different than our Sun is giants. These stars are nearing the end of their lives. These stars are many times larger than the Sun. Some of them can be over a hundred times the size of the Sun! When our Sun grows older, it will become a red giant. Stars large than our Sun can become Supergiants or Hypergiants. These stars are large and when they die, they will form black holes. Stars that are around the size of our Sun will become white dwarfs or stellar nebulas, and stars slightly larger than our Sun will become Neutron Stars. This month, we will be learning about the different types of objects in our Universe, including the types I mentioned above.
September 15, 2013
Black Holes: When a star many times larger than our sun dies, it forms a single point into which objects are drawn. They only way a black hole can be seen is if it is pulling another star into it. Nothing can escape a black hole, not even light. It forms into one tiny, single point called a singularity. Some black holes are only a few times more massive than the sun. While others are millions of times more massive than the sun! If you were to fall into a black hole you would be stretched and turn red. You would be stretched to 1 atom wide, appear to hover over the black hole, and then disappear and be sucked completely into the black hole. Black holes are formed when really large stars die. There are even black holes that are at the center of galaxies! Our galaxy even has a black hole at its center. Below is 2 videos. The first one explains X-Rays and the second one explains the black hole at the center of our galaxy.
Black Holes: When a star many times larger than our sun dies, it forms a single point into which objects are drawn. They only way a black hole can be seen is if it is pulling another star into it. Nothing can escape a black hole, not even light. It forms into one tiny, single point called a singularity. Some black holes are only a few times more massive than the sun. While others are millions of times more massive than the sun! If you were to fall into a black hole you would be stretched and turn red. You would be stretched to 1 atom wide, appear to hover over the black hole, and then disappear and be sucked completely into the black hole. Black holes are formed when really large stars die. There are even black holes that are at the center of galaxies! Our galaxy even has a black hole at its center. Below is 2 videos. The first one explains X-Rays and the second one explains the black hole at the center of our galaxy.
September 14, 2013
Galaxies: Galaxies are large collections of stars in space. There are many billions of galaxies in our universe. Some are small, with only a few million stars, while some are big, with 400 billion stars or more. Some galaxies are so massive they have a supermassive black hole, or a black hole many, many times stronger and larger than regular black holes, at their centers. There is one of those supermassive black holes in the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Galaxies: Galaxies are large collections of stars in space. There are many billions of galaxies in our universe. Some are small, with only a few million stars, while some are big, with 400 billion stars or more. Some galaxies are so massive they have a supermassive black hole, or a black hole many, many times stronger and larger than regular black holes, at their centers. There is one of those supermassive black holes in the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
September 14, 2013
Types of Galaxies: There are three types of galaxies: Spiral, Elliptical, and Irregular. Spiral galaxies are the most common type of galaxies. They are named for their shape, which is spiral. The picture at left shows a spiral galaxy. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is a spiral galaxy. There is lots of gas and dust in the arms of these galaxies, and these arms are where stars are constantly forming. The second type of galaxy is the Elliptical galaxies. Elliptical galaxies are comprised mostly of old stars. These galaxies don't actively make stars. The Elliptical galaxies are usually smaller, but this type of galaxy can be big. Most of those Elliptical galaxies have only a few thousand stars, but some of these galaxies can have billions of stars. The stars in this type of galaxy are usually close together. The last type of galaxy is the Irregular galaxies. Irregular galaxies are simply galaxies that are not spiral or elliptical, and can look like almost anything you can imagine. Most irregular galaxies used to be a spiral, or even an elliptical galaxy, until an accident occured to them, like crashing into another galaxy.
Types of Galaxies: There are three types of galaxies: Spiral, Elliptical, and Irregular. Spiral galaxies are the most common type of galaxies. They are named for their shape, which is spiral. The picture at left shows a spiral galaxy. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is a spiral galaxy. There is lots of gas and dust in the arms of these galaxies, and these arms are where stars are constantly forming. The second type of galaxy is the Elliptical galaxies. Elliptical galaxies are comprised mostly of old stars. These galaxies don't actively make stars. The Elliptical galaxies are usually smaller, but this type of galaxy can be big. Most of those Elliptical galaxies have only a few thousand stars, but some of these galaxies can have billions of stars. The stars in this type of galaxy are usually close together. The last type of galaxy is the Irregular galaxies. Irregular galaxies are simply galaxies that are not spiral or elliptical, and can look like almost anything you can imagine. Most irregular galaxies used to be a spiral, or even an elliptical galaxy, until an accident occured to them, like crashing into another galaxy.