The Sun and Other Stars What is a star? A star is: a huge ball of burning and exploding gases which gives off heat and light it burns for millions of years

The Sun and Other Stars The Sun Star at the center of the solar system                                                The Sun and Other Stars The Sun Star at the center of the solar system Huge ball of very hot gases, mostly hydrogen and helium Source of almost all of the energy on Earth (plants, wind, weather)

How are Stars Classified?                                                The Sun and Other Stars How are Stars Classified? Star Magnitude Brightness of a star Apparent magnitude – how bright it seems to be from Earth, due to their distance from the sun Absolute magnitude – how bright a star really is

How are Stars Classified? The Sun and Other Stars How are Stars Classified? Types of Stars Color of a star is a clue to its surface temperature Blue stars = hottest temperature Red stars = coolest temperature Main sequence A band of stars that includes most stars of average color, size, magnitude, and temperature

The Sun and Other Stars Nova Supernova Stars that increase in brightness in the later stages of their existence Supernova A star that explodes Last Supernova in our galaxy was in 1604

The Sun and Other Stars Observing Stars Scientists learn about stars by studying the energy waves they send into space Use different kinds of telescopes