How long does a star live
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Lifespan of Stars: From Birth to Death
Lifespan of Massive Stars
Massive stars, those with significantly greater mass than our Sun, have relatively short lifespans. These stars typically exhaust their nuclear fuel in less than 5 million years1. The high rate of energy output in massive stars, such as O and B types, means they burn through their fuel quickly, leading to lifespans ranging from about 3 to a few hundred million years3. Despite their short lives, these stars are crucial for understanding star formation and the dynamic processes within galaxies.
Lifespan of Average and Low-Mass Stars
Stars with masses similar to or less than our Sun have much longer lifespans. These stars can live for billions of years. For instance, stars with masses in the range of 1-8 solar masses typically have lifespans ranging from 1 billion to 10 billion years6. These stars spend the majority of their lives in a stable phase, fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores.
Extremely Long-Lived Stars
There is theoretical evidence suggesting that some stars could have lifespans extending to 10^13 to 10^14 years2. These extremely long-lived stars would be low-mass stars that burn their fuel very slowly. However, such timescales are far beyond the current age of the universe, which is approximately 13.8 billion years, making direct observation and confirmation challenging.
Star Death and End Stages
The end of a star's life depends significantly on its mass. Massive stars often end their lives in spectacular supernova explosions, leaving behind neutron stars or black holes. In contrast, stars with masses between 1-8 solar masses typically end their lives by shedding their outer layers to form planetary nebulae, leaving behind white dwarfs6. These end stages can be observed and studied, providing insights into the life cycles of stars4 5.
Conclusion
The lifespan of a star varies widely depending on its mass. Massive stars live for a few million to a few hundred million years, while average and low-mass stars can live for billions of years. Some theoretical models even suggest the possibility of stars living for trillions of years. Understanding these lifespans helps astronomers piece together the life cycles of stars and the evolution of galaxies.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Infrared studies of star formation.
Star formation is occurring in the galaxy at present, despite the short lifespan of massive stars and the galaxy's age of more than 10 billion years.
Star Formation-A General Survey
Star formation involves the formation of relatively young, very luminous stars, with lifetimes ranging from three to a few hundred million years.
The End Point — Star Death
Stars live for millions, billions, and even hundreds of billions of years,1 and so you may be thinking “how on Earth can we know anything about how a star dies?” After all, we have only been on a planet that is about 4.5 billion years old, and been studying astronomy for about 10,000 years. Well, fortunately for us, it is possible to observe the many disparate ways in which a star can end its life
A collimated, high-speed outflow from the dying star V Hydrae
A high-speed jet-like outflow has been discovered in the dying star V Hydrae, driven by an accretion disk around an unseen companion, potentially aiding in the transformation of AGB stars into planetary nebulae.
Survival Analysis of the Single- and Double-Coated STAR Ankle up to 20 Years
Long-term results of the STAR prosthesis are not encouraging, with deteriorating results over time.
Observational Study