A star is a massive, compact body of plasma in outer space that is currently producing or has produced energy through nuclear fusion. The most familiar and closest star to the Earth is the Sun. Unlike a planet, from which most light is reflected, a star emits light because of its intense heat. Stellar astronomy is the study of stars.

Individual stars differ from each other due to their total mass, their composition, and their age. The total mass determines the course of evolution of a star, as well as its eventual fate. A Hertzsprung-Russell diagram shows the pattern of the temperature of stars against their absolute magnitude, and can be used to determine the overall age of a star and the stage in its evolution. Initially, stars are composed primarily of hydrogen, with some helium and heavier trace elements that determine the metallicity of a star. Over the course of a star's evolution, a portion of the hydrogen is converted into heavier elements through the process of nuclear fusion. Part of the matter is then recycled back into the interstellar environment, where it is used to form a new generation of more metal-rich stars.

Multi-star systems consist of two or more stars that are gravitationally bound, and generally move around each other in stable orbits. When two such stars have a relatively close orbit, their gravitational interaction can have a significant impact on their evolution. For example, a nova occurs when a white dwarf accretes matter from a companion star.

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Synopsis of Charlie Brown's All-stars: The philosophical battle continues between Linus's sabremetric leanings and Charlie Brown's smallball
JasonTO (Jason) Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:53:15 -0000
Synopsis of Charlie Brown's All-stars: The philosophical battle continues between Linus's sabremetric leanings and Charlie Brown's smallball

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