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Intro to Astronomy
Mainly H-R Diagram
55
Astronomy
Undergraduate 1
04/19/2011

Additional Astronomy Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Hayashi track
Definition
the object is a protostar, no fusion taking place. It is still condensing under the influence of gravity
Term
main sequence star
Definition
in the core of the star hydrogen fusion takes place to form helium. The star spends almost all of its lifetime on the man sequence
Term
subgiant
Definition
all the hydrogen in the core has turned into helium and core fusion has ceased. The helium core collapses under influence of gravity and becomes very hot. Hydrogen fusion takes place in a shell around core
Term
helium flash
Definition
the helium core is compressed to become degenerate gas and an explosive beginning to helium fusion occurs here
Term
red giant phase
Definition
helium fusion taking place in core to form carbon via the tripe alpha process
Term
carbon core
Definition
all helium in the core has been turned into carbon and core fusion ceases. Helium fusion shell is formed around the hot core causing the star to undergo another expansion and become a supergiant.
Term
formation of a planetary nebula
Definition
the outer parts of star escape into interstellar space forming the planetary nebula and eventually leaving behind the carbon core
Term
white dwarf stage
Definition
the outer part of the star has dispersed into interstellar space. The remaining stellar core is now a white dwarf, anf is almost all carbon. It is about the size of Earth, very dense, and is initially very hot.
Term
1987 supernova
Definition
neutrinos discovered
Term
X-Ray busters
Definition
nova explosion on a neutron star
Term
gamma ray burst
Definition
2 neutron stars merging
Term
A
Definition
Hayashi track
Term
B
Definition
Main sequence star
Term
C
Definition
subgiant
Term
D
Definition
Helium flash
Term
E
Definition
red giant phase
Term
F
Definition
carbon core
Term
F
Definition
carbon core
Term
G
Definition
planetary nebula
Term
H
Definition
white dwarf stage
Term
Nova
Definition
will occur again
Term
Supernova
Definition
will leave nothing behind
Term
Supernova
Definition
will not occur again
Term
neutronization
Definition
source of heavy elements
Term
Why are variable stars important?
Definition
distance indicators theory of stellar evolution predicts their existence
Term
Emission Nebulae
Definition
emit their own light
Term
light comes from excited atoms
Definition
Emission Nebulae
Term
Reflection Nebula
Definition
emits light by reflecting light from a nearby star
Term
dust specks in nebula reflecting light
Definition
reflection nebula
Term
dark nebulae
Definition
dark
Term
do not emit light
Definition
dark nebulae
Term
interstellar reddening
Definition
stars appear redder than they actually are
Term
caused by IM preferentially scattering blue light
Definition
interstellar reddening
Term
extinction
Definition
stars appear dimmer than the should
Term
IM absorbs some of the starlight
Definition
Extinction
Term
21 cm radiation
Definition
em radiation emitted by cold neutral H atoms
Term
wavelength=21 cm
Definition
21 cm radiation
Term
spin
Definition
electron also rotates on it axis
Term
Stage 1 of Star Formation: interstellar cloud
Definition
tens of parsecs across
Term
billion particles/m3
Definition
Stage 1 of Star Formation: interstellar cloud
Term
Stage 2 of Star Formation: collapsing cloud fragment
Definition
about 100 times the size of Solar System
Term
initially doesn't heat much because radiation escapes
Definition
Stage 2 of Star Formation: collapsing cloud fragment
Term
Stage 3 of Star Formation: fragmentation ceases
Definition
roughly size of the solar system
Term
inner part of cloud opaque and heats up a lot
Definition
Stage 3 of Star Formation: fragmentation ceases
Term
when fragmentation ceases the inner part becomes a
Definition
protostar
Term
Kelvin
Definition
Helmholtz contraction phase
Term
Stage 4 of Star Formation: protostar--
Definition
prestellar object hot enough to emit IR, but not hot enough for fusion
Term
core temp= 1million K
Definition
Stage 4 of Star Formation: protostar
Term
Stage 5 of Star Formation: protostellar evolution
Definition
surface T= 5000K
Term
core T= 5 million K
Definition
Stage 5 of Star Formation: protostellar evolution
Term
Stage 6 of Star Formation: newborn star
Definition
core temp. reaches 10 million K, hot enough to start H fusion
Term
surface a bit cooler than the Sun
Definition
Stage 6 of Star Formation: newborn star
Term
Stage 7 of Star Formation: The main sequence
Definition
central density about 10^32
Term
central temp= 15 million K
Definition
Stage 7 of Star Formation: The main sequence
Term
stars has arrived along the_____during stage 7 of star formation: the main sequence
Definition
zero age main sequence (ZAMS)
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