What is a protostar?
Quick Answer
A protostar is a young star still forming from a collapsing cloud of gas and dust. It has not yet begun stable hydrogen fusion in its core.
The Full Story
Protostars form inside cold molecular clouds when gravity causes gas and dust to collapse into a dense core. As material falls inward, the center heats up and a rotating disk often forms around it. The object glows mainly from gravitational energy rather than nuclear fusion during this stage. When the core becomes hot and dense enough for hydrogen fusion to begin, the protostar becomes a true star. This stage is crucial in understanding how stars and planetary systems are born.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"How a star is born before it ever starts shining like the Sun"
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