AST 309 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Magnesium
Document Summary
Stars greater than 8 solar masses are usually considered massive stars. Massive stars form and evolve much more quickly than lower-mass stars. Will undergo supernova explosion and end up as a neutron star. They will give off lots of uv photons (ionizing radiation) They will end their lives in a much more dramatic fashion. Massive stars seem to always form in clustered environments. Observational knowledge of massive star formation is more limited than our knowledge of solar-mass star formation. Massive stars are more rare: statistically, therefore sites of massive star formation will be located farther away from us. Nearest site of massive star formation is orion - it is ~1500 light years away. Nearest site of largest clusters of stars forming is even 10 times farther away. Whereas, sites like taurus are only 400 light years away - but only lower mass stars are forming here.
