And work cited page (fun stuff).
Hook: The Supernova is the largest explosion in the universe
The Birth of Stars: Nebulae
Nebulae are large clouds of gas and dust (The Schools' Observatory).
Gravity causes the materials in the Nebula to clump together and begin to heat up, as well as collapse (NASA, “Star Basics”).
The collapsed clumps of gas and dust form Protostars (NASA, “Star Basics”).
The Protostar is heated up from its collapse, causing immense pressure, kickstarting nuclear fusion (NASA, “Star Basics”).
The process of nuclear fusion is the longest part of a star’s lifespan, and is called a Main Sequence Star NASA (“The Life Cycles of Stars: How Supernovae Are Formed”).
This phase lasts between a few hundred thousand to a few trillion years, depending on the star’s mass (NASA, “Star Basics”).
The nuclear fusion changes the hydrogen in the star’s core to helium (“The Life Cycles of Stars: How Supernovae Are Formed”).
The length of this phase depends on how much mass a star collected in the nebula, as more mass requires more fuel, and low mass requires less fuel, resulting in a longer lifespan (“The Life Cycles of Stars: How Supernovae Are Formed”).
Starts when stars don’t have any more hydrogen to turn into helium (NASA, “Star Basics”).
Low Mass stars have a different death compared to high mass stars (NASA, “Star Basics”).
Low Mass Stars collapse when there is no more fusion, causing gravity to puff up the star and form a Red Giant/Supergiant (“The Life Cycles of Stars: How Supernovae Are Formed”).
The Red Giant begins to restart nuclear fusion and turns its helium into carbon (NASA, “Star Basics”).
The Red Giant sheds its layers, leaving only the planetary nebula (NASA, “Star Basics”).
When the last of the helium turns into carbon, gravity collapses it again, turning it into a White Dwarf (The Schools' Observatory).
The White Dwarf will eventually burn out and become a black Dwarf (The Schools' Observatory).
High Mass stars follow the same path up until the Red Giant phase (NASA, “Star Basics”).
The higher gravity pulls the carbon into clumps, causing nitrogen, oxygen, and iron to form (The Schools' Observatory).
When iron forms, fusion ceases, and the iron absorbs the star’s energy (The Schools' Observatory).
When the energy is too great, it explodes out and forms a Supernova (The Schools' Observatory).
The leftover of the star is called a Neutron Star (The Schools' Observatory).
Neutron stars collapse when all the energy of the explosion and nuclear fusion ceases (The Schools' Observatory).
The star collapses one more time and becomes a black hole, the final step (NASA, “Star Basics”).
Stars inform us about how life is created (NASA, “Star Lifecycle - NASA Science”).
Stars form the basic building blocks of planets and galaxies, and can inform us about how galaxies and life form (NASA, “Star Lifecycle - NASA Science”).
It also offers perspective on how fleeting our existence is, and it may clue us in to what will happen to Earth.
Earth will eventually return to the cycle of Stars and go on to form new stars, planets, or even galaxies (NASA, “Star Lifecycle - NASA Science”).
Stars are one of the most beautiful creations in the universe, and it is distinctly human to be fascinated by the sky. Humans have always wondered about stars, they use them for navigation, calendars, and many other purposes. Our lives are shaped around stars, and we must try to understand them as best we can.
---. “Star Basics.” Science.nasa.gov, NASA, 22 Oct. 2024, science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/. Accessed 7 May 2026.
The Schools' Observatory. “Stellar Evolution | the Schools’ Observatory.” Schoolsobservatory.org, 2015, www.schoolsobservatory.org/learn/space/stars/evolution. Accessed 8 May 2026.
---. “The Life Cycles of Stars: How Supernovae Are Formed.” Nasa.gov, 7 May 2015, imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/educators/lessons/xray_spectra/background-lifecycles.html. Accessed 8 May 2026.
---. “Star Lifecycle - NASA Science.” Science.nasa.gov, 28 Sept. 2023, science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/star-lifecycle/. Accessed 15 May 2026.
Erickson, Kristen. “What Is a Supernova? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids.” Nasa.gov, NASA, 2017, spaceplace.nasa.gov/supernova/en/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
Lutz, Ota. “How Scientists Captured the First Image of a Black Hole.” NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 2022, www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/teachable-moment/how-scientists-captured-the-first-image-of-a-black-hole/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
NASA. “A Poster-Size Image of the Beautiful Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1300.” NASA Science, 11 Jan. 2005, science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/a-poster-size-image-of-the-beautiful-barred-spiral-galaxy-ngc-1300/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
---. “Exploring the Birth of Stars - NASA Science.” Science.nasa.gov, 10 Apr. 2025, science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/science-highlights/exploring-the-birth-of-stars/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
---. “Messier 16 (the Eagle Nebula) - NASA Science.” Science.nasa.gov, 12 Sept. 2024, science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-16/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
---. “Star Types - NASA Science.” Science.nasa.gov, NASA, May 2024, science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/types/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
NASA, NASA. “‘Y Dwarf’ Chillin’ in Space (Artist’s Concept).” NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 23 Aug. 2011, www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia14720-y-dwarf-chillin-in-space-artists-concept/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
---. “Light Echoes from a Red Supergiant - NASA.” Nasa.gov, 23 Mar. 2008, www.nasa.gov/image-article/light-echoes-from-red-supergiant/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
---. “New Chandra Movie Features Neutron Star Action - NASA.” NASA, NASA, 8 Jan. 2013, www.nasa.gov/missions/chandra/new-chandra-movie-features-neutron-star-action/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
---. “White Dwarf Star Stein 2051 B - NASA Science.” NASA Science, NASA, 7 June 2017, science.nasa.gov/asset/hubble/white-dwarf-star-stein-2051-b/. Accessed 12 May 2026.
NASA. “Star Basics.” Science.nasa.gov, NASA, 22 Oct. 2024, science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/. Accessed 15 May 2026
---. “Star Lifecycle - NASA Science.” Science.nasa.gov, 28 Sept. 2023, science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/star-lifecycle/. Accessed 15 May 2026.
NASA, NASA. “Stars - NASA.” NASA, 31 Mar. 2025, www.nasa.gov/gallery/stars/. Accessed 15 May 2026.
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