Classifying Stars Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a star?

A huge ball of very hot gases in space.

What does the term universe refer to?

All matter and energy, including the earth, the galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space, regarded as a whole.

What is a supergiant star?

A star with a diameter up to 1000 times the diameter of the sun; largest of all stars.

What is a neutron star?

A star that has collapsed under its own gravity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pulsar?

A degenerate neutron star. Signup and view all the answers

What is a stellar nebula?

A large cloud of hydrogen, helium and dust, commonly referred to as the birthplace of stars. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an elliptical galaxy?

A galaxy shaped like a round or flattened ball, generally containing only old stars. Signup and view all the answers

What is a barred-spiral galaxy?

A galaxy that is similar to a spiral galaxy, except that the spiral arm pattern originates from a bar of material that passes through the nucleus of the galaxy. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram illustrate?

A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars. Signup and view all the answers

What is apparent magnitude?

The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a main sequence star?

A normal star that is undergoing nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a giant star?

A very bright star of large diameter and low density (relative to the Sun). Signup and view all the answers

What is a dwarf star?

Any star smaller than a giant, such as a main-sequence star or a white dwarf. Signup and view all the answers

What is a black hole?

A region of space resulting from the collapse of a star. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term galaxy mean?

A splendid assemblage (especially of famous people). Signup and view all the answers

What is a planetary nebula?

The glowing cloud of gas ejected from a low-mass star at the end of its life. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an irregular galaxy?

A galaxy that does not have a regular shape. Signup and view all the answers

What does luminosity refer to?

How bright a star will be in relation to the sun if all stars were the same distance from the observer. Signup and view all the answers

What is absolute magnitude?

(Astronomy) The magnitude that a star would have if it were viewed from a distance of 10 parsecs (32.62 light years) from the Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a quasar?

A starlike object that may send out radio waves and other forms of energy. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stars and Their Classifications

Stars are huge, hot gas balls in space.
Supergiant stars can have diameters up to 1000 times that of the Sun and are the largest stars.
Neutron stars result from a star collapsing under its own gravity, whereas pulsars are a type of degenerate neutron star.

Stellar Phenomena

Stellar nebulae are large clouds of hydrogen, helium, and dust, recognized as the birthplaces of stars.
Planetary nebulae are glowing gas clouds ejected from low-mass stars at the end of their life cycles.

Types of Galaxies

Elliptical galaxies have a rounded or flattened shape and typically contain older stars.
Barred-spiral galaxies feature spiral arm patterns that emerge from a bar of material through the galaxy's nucleus.
Irregular galaxies display no regular shape, distinguishing them from other galaxy types.

Luminosity and Brightness Measurement

The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is utilized to relate the temperature and brightness of stars.
Apparent magnitude measures a star's brightness from Earth.
Absolute magnitude defines how bright a star would appear from a standard distance of 10 parsecs (32.62 light years).

Stellar Evolution

Main sequence stars, like the Sun, undergo nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen to helium.
Giant stars are bright, large-diameter stars with relatively low density compared to the Sun.
Dwarf stars are smaller than giants and include main-sequence stars and white dwarfs.

Cosmic Structures

The universe encompasses all matter and energy, including stars, galaxies, and intergalactic space.
Black holes form when a star collapses entirely, creating regions of space with strong gravitational pulls.
Quasars are starlike entities that emit radio waves and other forms of energy, often associated with the early universe.

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Description

This quiz features flashcards that help you learn about different types of stars and the universe. Get familiar with key terms such as supergiant stars and neutron stars, each defined to enhance your understanding of astronomy. Perfect for students and astronomy enthusiasts alike.