Life Cycle of a Star

Average life cycle

1. Stellar nebula

2. protostar

3. average star

4. red giant

5. planetary nebula

6. white dwarf

7. black dwarf

massive life cycle

1. stellar nebula

2. protostar

3. massive star

4. red super giant

5. super nova

6. black hole

7. neutron star

main sequence stars/ He fusion

average star & massive star

super nova

creates all elements larger than #26

red giant

fuse up to #6 carbon

red supergiant

fuse up to #26 iron

Stellar nebula

first step in both massive and average stars life cycle

protostar

second step in both massive and average stars life cycle

neutron star

less massive

black hole

more massive

how do stars grow

fusing small atoms as a form of energy