Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
How I wonder what you are.
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
by Jane Taylor
It is likely that you are extremely familiar with the lyrics in the song shown above. From the early days of human history and into modern times, humans have wondered about the stars in the night sky. Explorers have set sail by them, artists have painted them, and stars have been an important symbol in the history of the United States, including the American flag. But stars are more than just a symbol or a piece of artistry. These complex structures play an important role in the universe.
In this module, you will explore the characteristics of stars, including their life cycle. You will begin by studying the relationship between mass and luminosity, or the total amount of radiation emitted by a star, and how it impacts the stability of star. In addition, you will learn how stars are measured on the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram based on the temperature and luminosity of the stars. Then, you will learn about the two main ways used to find the distance to stars and other celestial objects. Finally, you will look at the life of a star from its birth to its drama-filled ending.
Getting Started
Before you begin your journey through the stars, check to see if you already know some of the terms and concepts that you will learn in this module by completing this interactivity. Read each definition and drag and drop the correct term into the blank provided. Then, click SUBMIT to check your answer. Click the player to get started.
Key Vocabulary
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To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.
absolute magnitude | event horizon | parallax |
accretion disk | fusion | parsec |
apparent magnitude | Hertzsprung-Russell diagram | protostar |
astronomical unit (AU) | hydrostatic equilibrium | red giant |
binary star | interstellar gas cloud | reflection nebula |
brown/black dwarf | luminosity | singularity |
black hole | main sequence | spectral classes |
Chandrasekhar limit | mass-luminosity relationship | spectroscopic parallax |
distance modulus equation | nebula | supernova |
emission nebula | neutron star | white dwarf |