How a Star Is Born Ends
A star is born ends when its core fuel runs out. Gravity then drives the final stages of evolution, which depend on the star’s mass and composition.
Final Stages by Mass
Low mass stars puff off outer layers and leave a dense white dwarf. Medium mass stars follow a similar path with a planetary nebula phase. Very massive stars collapse and may form a neutron star or black hole.
Observing the Remnants
Astronomers detect white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes through their effects on nearby matter and light. The European Space Agency provides an overview of stellar endpoints at esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/stellar_evolution.
