Nuclear fusion at a star’s core provides the outward force to prevent the star from collapsing onto itself from the inward force of gravity.  When atomic fusion ceases, however, the collapsing star creates an extremely compact object known as a stellar corpse.

Tonight’s talk will discuss the three types of stellar corpses, white dwarfs, neutron stars and stellar black holes, including how they form and their inner structures. More interesting,though, you will see that these seeming dead compressed stellar cores are far from inactive and often lead exciting lives with many active astrophysical processes. These involve novae, supernovae, pulsars, starquakes, X-ray binaries and mergers.

Afterwards, you will understand the basics and more about these intriguing objects often mentioned in articles without any important accompanying details. In turn, this will enhance your enjoyment of your ongoing astronomy reading and learning as you discover the party is not over these fascinating objects.

Join us online 8 pm Monday evening.