Its total mass mainly determines its evolution and eventual fate. A star shines for most of its active life due to the thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in its core. This process releases energy that traverses the star's interior and radiates into outer space.
A star’s gas provides its fuel, and its mass determines how rapidly it runs through its supply, with lower-mass stars burning longer, dimmer, and cooler than very massive stars.
Star, any massive self-luminous celestial body of gas that shines by radiation derived from its internal energy sources. This article describes the properties and evolution of individual stars.
A star that consumes hydrogen to form helium is called a "main-sequence" star for all the time it is a hydrogen-fusing object. When it uses up all its fuel, the core contracts because the outward radiation pressure is no longer enough to balance the gravitational force.
A star’s mass determines its temperature and luminosity, and how it will live and die. The more massive a star is, the hotter it burns, the faster it uses up its fuel, and the shorter its life is.
The universe’s stars range in brightness, size, color, and behavior. Some types change into others very quickly, while others stay relatively unchanged over
ALMA image of the young star HL Tau and its protoplanetary disk. This best image ever of planet formation reveals multiple rings and gaps that herald the presence of emerging planets as they sweep their orbits clear of dust and gas.