Cosmos4Kids.com Home Page Universe Galaxies Stars Solar System Solar System Details Exploration Cosmos4Kids Sections Search
Stars
 

What Makes a Star?

All stars require a spark of ignition to become stars. We emphasize the basics at Cosmos4Kids. You're here to learn about what a star is and a little bit about them. Once again, a star is basically a ball of gas that has nuclear reactions occurring in its atmosphere. As those reactions occur, huge amounts of energy are released into space. The energy is released as electromagnetic radiation (EM). That EM radiation includes visible light, UV (ultraviolet) light, IR radiation (infrared), x-rays and gamma rays. There are also very small particles leaving the star. Those particles are byproducts of the nuclear reactions.

Colors

We have a yellow star. That's the Sun. Some systems have red stars. Others have a blue tint. The color of a star depends on its surface temperature. Bluer stars have a higher surface temperature. Lower temperature stars give off a lot of red light.

The Three Basics

Astronomers look at three main characteristics of stars. They study luminosity (brightness), temperature, and radius (size). Each of these three factors can tell you a lot about a star. Take our star for example, the Sun. As far as stars are concerned, it is rather small. The yellow color tells you it has a nice, medium temperature. The small radius also gives an indication that it not much of a powerhouse. Last is the luminosity. On Earth, the Sun may seem bright. Compared to other stars it is only a candle. Astronomers consider our Sun to be in the main sequence of its development.

Next Stop On Cosmos4Kids Tour
Next Page on stars.
 
- Introduction
> Requirements
- Luminosity
- Classes
- Development
- Development II
- Black Holes

MORE ASTRONOMY TOPICS



Link to Cosmos4Kids.com Link to Biology4Kids.com Link to Chem4Kids.com Link to Geography4Kids.com Link to Physics4Kids.com Link to NumberNut.com Rader Network Side Navigation
 

Surviving a Supernova (NASA/MSFC Video)
RETURN TO TOP
- or -

Astronomy Quiz

Solar System Quiz

Useful Reference Materials

Encyclopedia.com (Stellar Magnetic Fields):
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Stellar_magnetic_fields.aspx
Wikipedia (Stellar Kinematics):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_kinematics
Encyclopædia Britannica (Molecular Clouds):
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/151690/molecular-cloud


 
RELATED LINKS
- Cosmos4Kids: Luminosity of Stars
- Chem4Kids: Matter
- Chem4Kids: Astrochemistry
- Chem4Kids: Atoms
- Chem4Kids: Hydrogen
- Chem4Kids: Helium
- Geography4Kids: Earth Energy
- Geography4Kids: Solar Radiation
- Physics4Kids: Magnetic Fields
- Physics4Kids: Light

- NASA: Home Page
- NASA: Kids Home Page
- ESA: Home Page
- ESA: Kids Home Page

  RETURN TO TOP
or
Search for more information...

* The custom search only looks at Rader's sites.
 

Help Page Go for site help or a list of astronomy topics at the site map!
©copyright 1997-2015 Andrew Rader Studios, All rights reserved.
Current Page: Cosmos4Kids.com | Stars | Requirements


** Andrew Rader Studios does not monitor or review the content available at these web sites. They are paid advertisements and neither partners nor recommended web sites.