Topic 14 - Stellar evolution

Question 1

How many objects are in the Messier Catalogue?

Answer 1

110

Question 2

What type of objects are in the Messier Catalogue?

Answer 2

Galaxies, nebulae, clusters

Question 3

What is special about the objects in the Messier Catalogue?

Answer 3

All observed from the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 4

What is the NGC?

Answer 4

New General Catalogue

Question 5

How does the Bayer system work?

Answer 5

Stars are labelled according to their brightness within a constellation, using Greek letters.

Question 6

What is the balance in a white dwarf star?

Answer 6

Electron degeneracy pressure and gravity.

Question 7

What is the balance in a neutron star?

Answer 7

Neutron degeneracy pressure and gravity.

Question 8

What is the Chandrasekhar Limit

Answer 8

• Maximum mass of a stable white dwarf star
• 1.4 solar masses

Question 9

What is the difference between emission and absorption nebula?

Answer 9

• Emission nebula indícate newly born formed stars, Orion Nebula
• Absorption nebula is a dark nebula. It is so dense that it obscures visible wavelengths of light from objects behind it

Question 10

How can we detect black holes?

Answer 10

• If a binary star is close to a black hole, matter is pulled in, heated, and emits X-rays
• Black holes bend space-time so light from stars behind them appear as several images of stars