A star is a massive, compact body of plasma in outer space that is currently producing or has produced energy through nuclear fusion. The most familiar and closest star to the Earth is the Sun. Unlike a planet, from which most light is reflected, a star emits light because of its intense heat. Stellar astronomy is the study of stars.
Individual stars differ from each other due to their total mass, their composition, and their age. The total mass determines the course of evolution of a star, as well as its eventual fate. A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram shows the pattern of the temperature of stars against their absolute magnitude, and can be used to determine the overall age of a star and the stage in its evolution. Initially, stars are composed primarily of hydrogen, with some helium and heavier trace elements that determine the metallicity of a star. Over the course of a star's evolution, a portion of the hydrogen is converted into heavier elements through the process of nuclear fusion. Part of the matter is then recycled back into the interstellar environment, where it is used to form a new generation of more metal-rich stars.
Multi-star systems consist of two or more stars that are gravitationally bound, and generally move around each other in stable orbits. When two such stars have a relatively close orbit, their gravitational interaction can have a significant impact on their evolution. For example, a nova occurs when a white dwarf accretes matter from a companion star.
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Amateur :: Astronomy
Sky Maps and Atlases :: Amateur
Cosmology :: Astronomy
Stellar and Astrometric :: Data Archives
Star Names :: Space Novelties

A Mystery of Space: Stars - Learn about the fascinating universe, especially stars at this ThinkQuest site. There are two versions of the site to choose from, one for younger kids (under 12), and one for older kids (13 and over).
Astrometry Department, U.S Naval Observatory - The primary purpose of this website is to distribute information related to the positions and motions of the stars and planets, mainly to the Defense community.
Meta Description: [ The Astrometry Department of the
U.S. Naval Observatory is responsible for the determination of
fundamental positions, motions and distances of selected celestial
objects. ]
Astronomy 162: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology - Entire Astrophysics course online. Very extensive introduction course to stars.
Bright Star Catalogue - Find data (cross references, positions, proper motions, spectral classes, magnitudes ...) on all stars visible to the naked eye from the BSC, SKY2000, SAO, WDS and GCVS. Stars can be searched by their proper names, Bayer designations, Flamsteed, HR, HD, SAO or FK5 numbers.
Meta Description: [ Provides detailed information about stars: positions, proper motion, radial velocity, magnitudes, spectral class, color index, catalogue references, data about multiple star systems (i.e. orbital elements), data about variability (min./max. brightness, period, type of variability) and more. ]
Buy a Star, But It's Not Yours - Article discussing (non)validity of star naming companies.
Meta Description: [ Get Wired's take on technology business news and the Silicon Valley scene including IT, media, mobility, broadband, video, design, security, software, networking and internet startups on Wired.com ]
Cosmobrain - Lists the 50 brightest stars visible from Earth, and the 50 closest stars to Earth. Proper names, distances, magnitudes, spectral classification and other data are provided for each star.
Meta Description: [ Online Astronomy Portal since 1997. Phases of the Moon, Astronomical Calendar, Astrolinks, Bookstore, Stars, and much more information. ]
Dark Stars, Black Holes, Bright Galaxies - One huge page packed with illustrations, diagrams and photographs portraying some interesting aspects of stars, black holes and galaxies.
ESO Photo Gallery - Astronomical Images - Pictures of all kinds of Stars provided by the European Southern Observatory.
Meta Description: [ ESO is the European Organisation for
Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. It operates the La Silla
Paranal Observatory in Chile and has its headquarters in Garching, near
Munich, Germany. ]
Hawaiian Astronomical Society - Deepsky Atlas - A listing of the Hawaiian Astronomical Society Deepsky Atlas by constellation.
Meta Description: [ A listing of the Hawaiian Astronomical Society Deepsky Atlas by constellation ]
How Stuff Works: Stars - Illustrated tutorial about stars, their properties, formation, and death. Includes related links.
Meta Description: [ When you look up at night and see thousands of stars, have you ever wondered what you are looking at? Learn what stars are and how they live and die! ]
Laser Star Astrophysics - Plasma recombination lasers in rapidly cooled stellar atmospheres.
Meta Description: [ Plasma recombination lasers in rapidly cooled stellar atmospheres. Astrophysical observations and laboratory results confirm collisional radiative simulation predictions. Quasars are stars in our galaxy. ]
Magnetohydrodynamics of Stellar Interiors - Discussion will focus on the nonlinear interactions between turbulent convection, rotation and magnetic fields in the interiors of stars. From 6 September - 17 December, 2004 at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge, UK. Includes list of workshops and list of participants.
Meta Description: [ Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences ]
Measuring the Stars - In-depth lecture notes that provide information on how to derive properties of stars, based on observation.
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Scientific American Explorations: A Parade of New Planets - Sightings of extrasolar planets are increasing.
Meta Description: [ Science and Technology at Scientific American.com: A Parade of New Planets -- Science and Technology from Scientific American: daily science news and technology news, science trivia, science experts, science newsletters, science shop, science books and more ]
Solar and Stellar Seismology - Explains the study of a star's oscillations to determine the interior chemical composition.
Space Telescope Science Institute - A small Hubble telescope image gallery of Quasars.
SpaceWander Virtual Space Trip! - Multimedia experience of flying by spaceship through the solar system. Visit each planet. Real space pictures from NASA. In English, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian. Recommended for kids.
Meta Description: [ Fly to Mars and Jupiter! Travel through deep space! SpaceWander's award-winning multimedia space trip features real NASA images! Check out our space store for space book, space videos, telescopes, and NASA hats. You can even buy a REAL SPACE TRAVEL! SpaceWander's trip through the Universe fea... ]
Spectra and Spectra Analysis: Stars - Includes a section on spectral classification of stars.
Meta Description: [ Astronomia in Italia - Astrofili.org - Il punto di riferimento per l' astronomia in Italia. - Forum astronomia - Effemeridi link News Eventi astronomici Tecniche Immagini Astrofotografia, sole luna pianeti, acquisto telescopio, ottiche recensioni strumenti, montature telescopi, oculari access... ]
Star Data Pages - Provides detailed information about stars: positions, proper motion, radial velocity, magnitudes, spectral class, color index, catalogue references, data about multiple star systems (i.e. orbital elements), and data about variability (min./max. brightness, period, type of variability).
Meta Description: [ Provides detailed information about stars: positions, proper motion, radial velocity, magnitudes, spectral class, color index, catalogue references, data about multiple star systems (i.e. orbital elements), data about variability (min./max. brightness, period, type of variability) and more. ]
Star Journey @ nationalgeographic.com - Star Journey. Journey through the stars with National Geographic Online. View the nighttime sky with popular National Geographic Star Chart...
Meta Description: [ View the nighttime sky using National Geographic's star chart. See a detailed model of the Hubble Space Telescope ]
Star Maps - Three high resolution star maps in .tif format for download. Tycho, Hipparcos and Yale bright star maps available.
Stars and Galaxies - Behavior of stars, generation of energy, their origin, and life cycle. Also includes a wide range of interesting pictures of galaxies and related phenomena that can be observed in the universe through telescopes.
Summer Sky Tour - A guide to give a tour of the summer night sky.
Meta Description: [ A guide for anyone who wants to give a tour
of the night sky: briefing on the major constellations, points
of interest, along with the astronomy and physics behind them. ]
The Classification of Stellar Spectra - NASA page explaining the colors and classifications (O, B, A, F, G, K, and M) of stars.
The Constellations since 1996 - Binocular and naked eye guide to the constellations, a data table, and mythology.
The Fifty Brightest Stars - The most visible stars that can be seen by the naked eye from earth. Lists names, positions, distances, magnitudes and spectral classifications.
Meta Description: [ Cosmobrain's Bright Star Catalog. Updated information about the 50 brigthest stars, including names, apparent visual and absolute magnitudes, distances, position and more. ]
The Formation of Binary Stars - Highly-detailed but brief paper concerning the Classical Fission Hypothesis.
University of Vaasa - Star photos - Nice index of some interesting star photographs. Note: All files are downloaded via an FTP program which appears in a new window.
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