Question 1

What is a star?

Accepted Answer

A star is a big ball of hot, glowing gas in space. Stars give off light and heat, like the Sun, which is our closest star.

Question 2

Where do stars come from?

Accepted Answer

Stars are born in giant clouds of gas and dust called nebulae. The gas and dust come together and get hot, and when they get hot enough, a star is born.

Question 3

How does a star start its life?

Accepted Answer

A star starts life when gas and dust come together and get so hot that it starts to shine. This first stage is called a 'protostar.'

Question 4

What is a main sequence star?

Accepted Answer

A main sequence star is a star that is in the longest part of its life cycle. Our Sun is a main sequence star, and during this time, it shines by turning hydrogen gas into helium.

Question 5

How does a star shine?

Accepted Answer

Stars shine because they are super hot! Inside, they have reactions that make a lot of energy, which they give off as light and heat.

Question 6

What happens when a star runs out of fuel?

Accepted Answer

When a star runs out of fuel, it can’t shine as it used to. Depending on its size, it may become a red giant or a supergiant.

Question 7

What is a red giant?

Accepted Answer

A red giant is a star that has used up a lot of its fuel and has grown larger and cooler. It turns red because it's cooler than it was before.

Question 8

What happens to small stars when they die?

Accepted Answer

Small stars, like our Sun, become white dwarfs after going through the red giant phase. White dwarfs are very dense and slowly cool down over time.

Question 9

What is a white dwarf?

Accepted Answer

A white dwarf is what’s left after a small or medium-sized star has used up all its fuel. It’s very hot at first but slowly cools down and gets dimmer.

Question 10

What happens to big stars when they die?

Accepted Answer

Big stars can explode in a huge burst of energy called a supernova. After the explosion, they can turn into a neutron star or a black hole.

Question 11

What is a supernova?

Accepted Answer

A supernova is a gigantic explosion that happens when a big star dies. It can light up the sky and outshine entire galaxies for a short time!

Question 12

What is a neutron star?

Accepted Answer

A neutron star is what’s left after a supernova, if the star was really big. It’s super dense because it’s packed with a lot of material in a small space.

Question 13

What is a black hole?

Accepted Answer

A black hole is an area in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. It forms when a big star collapses after a supernova.

Question 14

How long do stars live?

Accepted Answer

Stars can live millions to billions of years, depending on their size. Big stars live shorter lives because they use their fuel faster, while small stars can last much longer.

Question 15

What is the closest star to Earth?

Accepted Answer

The closest star to Earth is the Sun. It provides us with light and warmth and is about 93 million miles away from us.

Question 16

Why do stars twinkle?

Accepted Answer

Stars appear to twinkle because we are looking at them through the Earth’s atmosphere. The air moves and bends the light from the stars, making them look like they are twinkling.

Question 17

Can we see different colored stars?

Accepted Answer

Yes, stars can be different colors depending on how hot they are. Hot stars look blue or white, and cooler stars look orange or red.

Question 18

What is a constellation?

Accepted Answer

A constellation is a pattern of stars that people have named and grouped together in the sky. They often look like pictures or shapes, like animals or objects.

Question 19

Why is our Sun special?

Accepted Answer

The Sun is special because it is the star that gives life to our planet by providing light and warmth. It is also the center of our solar system where the Earth and other planets orbit.

Question 20

Can we see stars during the day?

Accepted Answer

Normally, we can’t see stars during the day because the Sun’s bright light makes the sky too bright. We can only see stars at night when the sky is dark.

The Life Cycle of Stars - 20 FAQs Explained Simply