Stars in the Universe

Module AChapter 1Grade 6

Scientists measure the distance to stars in…

• light-years

Light travels from the sun to Earth in about…

• 8 minutes

The hottest stars are…

• blue

The sun is a…

• mid-life star• & is the closest

star to Earth

Stars are found in groups called…

• galaxies

Elliptical Galaxy

• Shaped like sphere that is stretched out at ends

Spiral Galaxy

• Sweeping arms extending from a densely packed center

• The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy

Irregular Galaxy

• Contains many young stars

• Generally the smallest of the 3 galaxies

Earth is a planet in our solar system. The solar system is on one of arms of a spiral galaxy called the Milky Way. The Milky Way is

in a group of galaxies called the Local Group. This group is part of the universe.

Earth

Solar System

Local Group

Universe

Stars begin to form when…

• hydrogen & dust are pulled into a ball by gravity

• The energy inside a star that results in visible light is produced by..

• nuclear fusion

• Two atoms fuse together by the process of…

• nuclear fusion

Just before it dies, a massive star turns into a…

• supernova

Clouds of gas & swirling dust in spaces between

stars are…

• nebulas

Concept Mapgravity/pressure

collapse

explosion

nebula

nuclear fusion

red giant

supernova

This page was copied from Nick Strobel's Astronomy Notes. Go to his site at www.astronomynotes.com for the updated and corrected version.