No, a protostar typically evolves into a main sequence star within a few million years. The early stages of a protostar involve gravitational collapse and the conversion of gravitational potential energy into heat and light. Once nuclear fusion ignites in the core, the star enters the main sequence phase and can shine for billions of years.
The temperature of a protostar increases due to gravitational contraction. As the protostar contracts, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, causing the particles to move faster and collide more frequently, resulting in an increase in temperature. This process eventually leads to the ignition of nuclear fusion and the star's main sequence phase.
During the T-Tauri phase of a protostar, it undergoes significant changes in its structure and behavior. The protostar becomes more stable and begins to generate its own energy through nuclear fusion. It also develops a strong magnetic field and may exhibit intense solar flares. Additionally, the protostar starts to clear out the surrounding gas and dust, paving the way for the formation of a planetary system.
A protostar becomes a star when nuclear fusion begins in its core, primarily converting hydrogen into helium. This process generates the energy that allows the star to emit light and heat, officially making it a star.
In a protostar's outer layers, hydrogen atoms absorb photons. This process triggers nuclear fusion reactions that release energy and contribute to the protostar's growth and development into a stable star.
more than a million years
A protostar is more like a stage previous to a star - before it ignites.
because the jews said so
The temperature of a protostar increases due to gravitational contraction. As the protostar contracts, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, causing the particles to move faster and collide more frequently, resulting in an increase in temperature. This process eventually leads to the ignition of nuclear fusion and the star's main sequence phase.
a million or more years
The formation of a protostar from a nebula. As the protostar forms, it accretes more mass from the cloud and spins. As it gains more mass, it eventually becomes massive enough to ignite the core and become a star. The protostar is the first step in the evolution of any star.
It is called a protostar. As the protostar gathers more mass and becomes denser, nuclear fusion reactions are triggered at its core, leading to the formation of a new star.
More Shine was created on 2005-09-27.
Geologic time is very long, so a million or more years is the best choice.
As old as history itself, at least a few million years.
The sun was roughly 4.6 billion years old a million years ago. The margin for error on the estimated age of the sun is more than a million years.
Small dim stars can shine for a trillion years or more. The more massive a star is, the BRIGHTER it is, and the faster it burns out. Our Sun is perhaps just a bit larger than average, but not by a whole lot; our Sun has already burned for 4.5 billion years or so, and we can expect as much more. But it won't be the Sun as we know it; in 3 billion years or a little more, it will expand into a red giant. Very large stars like Betelgeuse are already quite old and about to die - spectacularly! - at fairly early ages. (Some time within the next 100,000 years) And yet, Betelgeuse is only about 100 million years old!
Small dim stars can shine for a trillion years or more. The more massive a star is, the BRIGHTER it is, and the faster it burns out. Our Sun is perhaps just a bit larger than average, but not by a whole lot; our Sun has already burned for 4.5 billion years or so, and we can expect as much more. But it won't be the Sun as we know it; in 3 billion years or a little more, it will expand into a red giant. Very large stars like Betelgeuse are already quite old and about to die - spectacularly! - at fairly early ages. (Some time within the next 100,000 years) And yet, Betelgeuse is only about 100 million years old!