Suggested Searches

Stellar Evolution Scavenger Hunt

This artist's impression shows a planet (left) that has approached too close to a white dwarf (right) and been torn apart by tidal forces from the star. The white dwarf is in the center of a planetary nebula depicted by the blue gas in the background. The planet is part of a planetary system, which includes one planet in the upper left and another in the lower right. The besieged planet could have initially been a considerable distance from the white dwarf but then migrated inwards by interacting with the gravity of other planets in the system.
This artist’s impression shows a planet (left) that has approached too close to a white dwarf (right) and been torn apart by tidal forces from the star. The white dwarf is in the center of a planetary nebula depicted by the blue gas in the background. The planet is part of a planetary system, which includes one planet in the upper left and another in the lower right. The besieged planet could have initially been a considerable distance from the white dwarf but then migrated inwards by interacting with the gravity of other planets in the system.
CXC/SAO/M.Weiss
Levels
  • Intermediate (6-8)
  • Advanced (9-12+)
Material Type
  • Activity/Hands-on
  • Educator/Facilitator Guide
Heliophysics Big Ideas
  • Big Idea 3.3 - Our Sun, like all stars, has a life cycle.
NGSS
  • ESS1 - Earth's Place in the Universe
  • PS1 - Matter and its Interactions
Heliophysics Topics
  • Solar System
  • Stellar Evolution
  • Sun
Heliophysics Missions
  • Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
  • Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
  • Parker Solar Probe
Related Missions
  • Hubble Space Telescope (Astro)
Material Cost per Learner $5 – $10
Language English

This activity introduces participants to the stages in the life cycles of massive, intermediate-mass, and low-mass stars to learn how a star’s life cycle depends largely on its mass.

Download PDF File at: https://universe-of-learning.org/files/live/sites/uol/files/home/resources/projects/guides/_documents/Stellar_Evolution_Scavenger_Hunt_Activity_Guide.pdf