“Twinkle, twinkle, Little Stars. How I wonder what you are.”: A Comprehensive Summary
Regarding Stars, Nebulae, and Interstellar Medium
Rizal Technological University
Department of Earth and Space Science
Cainglet, Ma. Elenita T.
Introduction to Astronomy
Abstract:
Many celestial bodies can be seen in the night sky without the use of professional
equipment such as telescopes. Stars, planets, and even the Moon could be seen with the naked
eye, piquing the interest of observers. Stars are visually appealing, glistening under the gaze of
the dark universe, as well as giving direction to those who are lost in paths. Those silvery dots
are actually light-years away from the Solar System, and when viewed through large telescopes,
their color is not silver similar to what observers on Earth see. Because of their curiosity about
what those little dots are, astronomers and researchers have slowly unraveled the star's
existence—how stars are born and how they die. Data about stars can trace back the chemical
composition of the early universe, in which astronomers also want to know about. Hence, in this
term paper, stars, nebulae, and interstellar medium will be discussed in detail that enabled
humanity to know the existence of these beautiful, gleaming balls of heated gas.
Keywords: NASA , Light-years , Nebula , Stellar Remnants , Herbig-Haro Objects , Supernova ,
Star Formation , Binary Stars , White dwarfs , Red Giants , Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram ,
Gyrochronology , Interstellar Medium , Wolf-Rayet Stars .
, Introduction:
No one knows exactly how big the nebula, black holes, planets, satellites
universe is. It cannot be put in numerical (Moons), asteroids, planetary systems, and
values, as the universe continues to expand. many more. Universe contains a lot of
However, Edwin Hubble, using a large unexplainable things, which make it more
telescope, first observed that a distant galaxy mysterious than any other entity.
recedes faster into space (NASA, n.d.). Using
Hubble’s observation, it means that the Aside from planets and the moon,
universe is expanding in all directions. another astronomical object that is visible in
Another evidence of expansion is the our night sky is the stars. Stars are a known
Doppler’s effect: the redshift and blueshift. giant ball of plasma and relatively famous for
Scientists and researchers have been gathering its pulsating brightness. People, while looking
data for years to further verify the expansion at the night sky, will first notice the twinkling,
of the universe. white gem—which are the stars. With all that
said, this comprehensive summary paper will
As the universe expands, more discuss and include information related to
astronomical objects are seen by our Stars and Nebula, such as the formation of
astronomers and researchers. Common stars, life-cycle of stars, characteristics of
astronomical objects are as follows: the stars, relationship of stars and nebulae,
stars—which have other types—galaxy, spectral classification, and so on.
, Result and Discussion:
I. Stars
A star is a ball of hot gas, held by its
1.1 Meaning of Stars
own gravity. It is also composed mainly of
hydrogen with helium and other elements.
According to NASA (n.d.), a star is
Additionally, properties of stars change
the most fundamental component of a
throughout their time, as they exhaust the
galaxy. Observing and researching about a
energy in their cores before dying.
star could trace the composition,
Astronomers estimated the amount of stars
distribution, and history of a galaxy due to
in the universe: around one septillion stars.
the time of star formation. In addition, stars
hold a strong magnetic field that protects its
star system from harsh galactic waves. For
example, the Sun—because of its magnetic
field, it shields the solar system from the
cosmic rays.
Image 2. Chemical composition of Sun
Furthermore, the word star was
Image 1. Sun’s magnetic field protects the Solar
rooted from different languages. Star came
System. Picture credits. NASA
, from a Middle English, sterre, from Old Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri),
English steorra, from Proto-West Germanic, Barnard’s star, and Wolf 359.
sterro, from Proto-Germanic, sterno, from
Proto-Indo-European, h₂stḗr , a greek word, Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri)
aster, and latin word, stella. is the nearest star out of the three mentioned.
Its distance from the Solar System is said to
1.2 Nearest star from Solar System be around 4.24 ly to 4.37 ly (Space.com,
n.d.). According to NASA (n.d.), Alpha
Centauri is actually a star system—three
stars can be seen in this star system, and two
stars (Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri
B) were gravitationally bound to each other.
Moreover, the dimmest star out of these
three stars is the Proxima Centauri, the
nearest star in the Solar System.
Proxima Centauri is a small, dim,
Image 3. Infographic of stars near the solar system.
and low-mass star. In addition, it is a red
dwarf star like Barnard’s star in the
As seen in Image 3, there are many
constellation of Ophiuchus. Just like any red
stars surrounding our Solar System. Three
dwarfs, its solar flares are also massive.
nearest stars, aside from the Sun, are the
Another thing to take note of is its
Regarding Stars, Nebulae, and Interstellar Medium
Rizal Technological University
Department of Earth and Space Science
Cainglet, Ma. Elenita T.
Introduction to Astronomy
Abstract:
Many celestial bodies can be seen in the night sky without the use of professional
equipment such as telescopes. Stars, planets, and even the Moon could be seen with the naked
eye, piquing the interest of observers. Stars are visually appealing, glistening under the gaze of
the dark universe, as well as giving direction to those who are lost in paths. Those silvery dots
are actually light-years away from the Solar System, and when viewed through large telescopes,
their color is not silver similar to what observers on Earth see. Because of their curiosity about
what those little dots are, astronomers and researchers have slowly unraveled the star's
existence—how stars are born and how they die. Data about stars can trace back the chemical
composition of the early universe, in which astronomers also want to know about. Hence, in this
term paper, stars, nebulae, and interstellar medium will be discussed in detail that enabled
humanity to know the existence of these beautiful, gleaming balls of heated gas.
Keywords: NASA , Light-years , Nebula , Stellar Remnants , Herbig-Haro Objects , Supernova ,
Star Formation , Binary Stars , White dwarfs , Red Giants , Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram ,
Gyrochronology , Interstellar Medium , Wolf-Rayet Stars .
, Introduction:
No one knows exactly how big the nebula, black holes, planets, satellites
universe is. It cannot be put in numerical (Moons), asteroids, planetary systems, and
values, as the universe continues to expand. many more. Universe contains a lot of
However, Edwin Hubble, using a large unexplainable things, which make it more
telescope, first observed that a distant galaxy mysterious than any other entity.
recedes faster into space (NASA, n.d.). Using
Hubble’s observation, it means that the Aside from planets and the moon,
universe is expanding in all directions. another astronomical object that is visible in
Another evidence of expansion is the our night sky is the stars. Stars are a known
Doppler’s effect: the redshift and blueshift. giant ball of plasma and relatively famous for
Scientists and researchers have been gathering its pulsating brightness. People, while looking
data for years to further verify the expansion at the night sky, will first notice the twinkling,
of the universe. white gem—which are the stars. With all that
said, this comprehensive summary paper will
As the universe expands, more discuss and include information related to
astronomical objects are seen by our Stars and Nebula, such as the formation of
astronomers and researchers. Common stars, life-cycle of stars, characteristics of
astronomical objects are as follows: the stars, relationship of stars and nebulae,
stars—which have other types—galaxy, spectral classification, and so on.
, Result and Discussion:
I. Stars
A star is a ball of hot gas, held by its
1.1 Meaning of Stars
own gravity. It is also composed mainly of
hydrogen with helium and other elements.
According to NASA (n.d.), a star is
Additionally, properties of stars change
the most fundamental component of a
throughout their time, as they exhaust the
galaxy. Observing and researching about a
energy in their cores before dying.
star could trace the composition,
Astronomers estimated the amount of stars
distribution, and history of a galaxy due to
in the universe: around one septillion stars.
the time of star formation. In addition, stars
hold a strong magnetic field that protects its
star system from harsh galactic waves. For
example, the Sun—because of its magnetic
field, it shields the solar system from the
cosmic rays.
Image 2. Chemical composition of Sun
Furthermore, the word star was
Image 1. Sun’s magnetic field protects the Solar
rooted from different languages. Star came
System. Picture credits. NASA
, from a Middle English, sterre, from Old Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri),
English steorra, from Proto-West Germanic, Barnard’s star, and Wolf 359.
sterro, from Proto-Germanic, sterno, from
Proto-Indo-European, h₂stḗr , a greek word, Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri)
aster, and latin word, stella. is the nearest star out of the three mentioned.
Its distance from the Solar System is said to
1.2 Nearest star from Solar System be around 4.24 ly to 4.37 ly (Space.com,
n.d.). According to NASA (n.d.), Alpha
Centauri is actually a star system—three
stars can be seen in this star system, and two
stars (Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri
B) were gravitationally bound to each other.
Moreover, the dimmest star out of these
three stars is the Proxima Centauri, the
nearest star in the Solar System.
Proxima Centauri is a small, dim,
Image 3. Infographic of stars near the solar system.
and low-mass star. In addition, it is a red
dwarf star like Barnard’s star in the
As seen in Image 3, there are many
constellation of Ophiuchus. Just like any red
stars surrounding our Solar System. Three
dwarfs, its solar flares are also massive.
nearest stars, aside from the Sun, are the
Another thing to take note of is its
