Birth of Stars FOUR

Description:
Stars form from the gravitational collapse of small "cores" deep inside giant

molecular clouds. Since these clouds are opaque at optical wavelengths, the

observations of these collapsing "protostars" must be conducted at radio and

infrared wavelengths, where the clouds are more transparent. I will show how

the observations reveal the various stages of star formation, from "starless

cores," though "hot cores," and eventually, young stars. I will pay special

attention to the most massive stars, whose origins are especially difficult to

understand. A byproduct of this process is the origin of planets, and I will

discuss some of the observational evidence that shows young solar systems in

the process of formation.

Dr Jim Jackson, Chairman of Astronomy Dept, Boston University
Seagrave Observatory - August 3, 2007 at 7:30 pm
47 Peeptoad Road, Scituate, Rhode Island 02857
http://www.theskyscrapers.org/ Embed this video
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