Legacy Astronomical Images > Galactic Sources Series > Stars Unit

Description

Stars are giant spheres of gas that are powered by nuclear reactions in their cores, where hydrogen atoms are fused into helium. The energy released by these reactions produces an outward force that balances the inward force of the star's own gravity.

Collection Items

Artist's Conception of Dusty Disk Around Young Star
Description: Artist Conception of Dusty Disk Around Young Star

Betelgeuse
Description: Supergiant stars such as Betelgeuse have very extended atmospheres, the properties of which are poorly understood.

Betelgeuse

TX Cam - Polarization
Description: VLBA image of the star TX Cam, showing "spots" of maser emission (blue, purple and yellow) from Silicon Monoxide (SiO) molecules forming a shell around the star. Approximate size of the star is indicated by red circle (artifically added to image).…

TX Cam - Masers
Description: VLBA image of the star TX Cam, showing regions ("spots") of maser emission from Silicon Monoxide (SiO) molecules forming a shell around the star. Approximate size of the star is indicated by red circle (artifically added to image). The maser spots…

OH Masers in U Herculis (HD 148206)
Description: Circumstellar OH masers are found in the envelope around late type stars. The star itself is obscured by the shell. However, the most blue-shifted spot is thought to be amplified emission from the underlying star. This maser spot would then be a…

Binary Star IM Pegasi
Description: A radio image of IM Pegasi superimposed upon an artist's depiction of the star system. IM Pegasi is a binary star system located about 300 light years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. The system consists of a red giant star about 13 times the…

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