Celestial Beings by Yvonne Anaya

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Cel estial Beings a poetic and scientific analysis on the life of stars and humans

copyright ÂŠ 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, and other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except for case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses only permitted by the copyright law. Some images and text have been used exclusively for inspiration and educational purpose only.

Yvonne Michelle Anaya â&#x20AC;&#x153;this book is dedicated to all those stars that guide me in my journeyâ&#x20AC;?

{contents}

06 07 08

11 13 14 15 16 18 19

23 24 26 27 28

INTRODUCTION celestial connection The Star Inside Us Inside the Body

CHAPTER 01 gems of the universe A Star is Born The Birth of a Star Formation of a Star Stellar Nursery Protostar Stellar Classification

CHAPTER 02 main sequence Stars and the Soul Stellar Adulthood Main Sequence: Internal Structure H-R Diagram

33 35 37 38 40 42

47 48 50 51 52 56

CHAPTER 03 middle aged giant Meditation Under the Stars Middle Aged Star Inside a Red Star Red Giants and Supergiants Star Comparison

CHAPTER 04 white dwarf Song of the Star An aging soul Evolution of Longevity The Life Cycle

BIBLIOGRAPHY

C E L E S T I A L B E I N G S â&#x20AC;˘ i n t r o d u c t i o n { Celestial Connection }

Karel Schrijiver We are, indeed, stardust, in a very literal sense.

p a g e • 07

T H E STA R I N S I D E U S

o u r h u m a n b o d y i s i n s e pa r a b l e f r o m n a t u r e a l l a r o u n d u s a n d i n t e r t w i n e d w i t h t h e h i s t o ry o f t h e u n i v e r s e . we are linked to the sun’s furnace, collision of asteroids a n d t o t h e c y c l e o f t h e b i r t h a n d d e a t h o f s ta r s .

Despite the universe’s appearance as a timeless,

same as the most common elements in our bodies,

permanent fixture, individual objects in space have

albeit with some notable exceptions that we can

different ages too. We can trace back the universe

easily understand. R Not only the elements in our

as a whole to moments after the Big Bang, but most

bodies, but all processes on the Earth are directly

of the stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies

connected to those in our solar system, to our

that make up the uncountable galaxies have not

Galaxy, and to the universe beyond. We usually do

existed since the beginning of time. Instead, early

not stop to think that some of the stars that twinkle

generations have “died” while new ones have been

in the midnight sky were extinguished eons ago,

formed. Stars are formed in nebulae, interstellar

their light having left the very distant star perhaps

huge clouds of dust and gas. R Realizing how fluid

thousands of years before that, still traveling

we are and how impermanent everything around

toward us as the star itself exploded and vanished

us truly is, we should think differently about the

The most massive stars have the shortest lives just

materials that we take into our bodies to quench

stars like our Sun live for about 10 billion years. Stars

our thirst and feed our hunger: this material does

less massive than the Sun have even longer life spans.

not simply flow through our gut, but is assimilated

From that perspective, it becomes understandable

into the very structure of our bodies until, then after

not merely the fact that the life on Earth reflects the

some time, it abandons it again in some other form.

very elemental makeup of the immense solar system.

Our bodies are very complex chemical machineries,

R The solar system and it’s complexity turn reflects

as are those of all living things on this planet, but

the very elemental makeup of the Galaxy around it.

the mixture of the elements used in our chemistry

Once mankind learned the true nature of stars and

simply reflects what is readily available around

realized that they are vast nuclear furnaces that shape

us in a chemically very useful form and quantity.

and destroy the planets around them, and when a

From this, it follows quite logically that the most

better understanding emerged of the central role

common elements in the planetary system are the

of stars in establishing the contents of the universe.

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C E L E S T I A L B E I N G S â&#x20AC;˘ i n t r o d u c t i o n { Celestial Connection }

I N S I D E T H E B O DY chemical composition

O T H E R

K E Y

E L E M E N T S

calcium 1.5% Lends rigidity and strength to the bones and teeth. It is also important for the function of nerves and muscles.

phosphorus 1.0% Needed for building and maintaining bones and teeth, also found in the molecule ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) which provides energy in cells.

sulfur 0.3% Found in cartilage insulin (the hormone that enables the body to use sugar).

chlorine 0.2% Needed by nerves to function properly; also helps produce gastric acid.

sodium 0.2% Plays a critical role in nerves electrical signaling; it also contributes to the regulation of water in the body.

magnesium 0.1% It has an important role in the structure of the skeleton and muscles.

iodine (trace amount) Part of the hormone produced in the thyroid gland.

iron(trace amount) Part of the hemoglobin and carries oxygen in blood cells.

zinc (trace amount) Forms part of the enzymes involved in digestion.

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 09

oxygen

65.0%

Critical to the conversion of food and energy

carbon

18.5%

The backbone of the building blocks of the body.

hydrogen

19.5%

The backbone of the building blocks of the body.

nitrogen Found in amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and essential part of the nucleic acids that constitute DNA.

65.0%

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CHAPTER

GEMS OF THE UNIVERSE A Star is Born • The Birth of a Star Formation of a Star • Stellar Nursery Protostar • Stellar Classification

CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;¢ chapter

0 1 { Gems of

the Universe }

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A STA R I S B O R N karen logan Precious little moments Impede our earthly body Pulling, Feeding, Suckling the essence we share. One blessed dew drop To caress thy cheek For that glorious day Of unfolding. One beam of light Warming a droplet, One moon beam Brilliantly passes through Each ventricle, Each vein, Time and again. Passion, love, beauty, All to behold In the brilliant Precious little moment A star is born.

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X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 13

CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;˘ chapter

0 1 { Gems of

the Universe }

T H E B I RT H O F A STA R

s ta rs a r e t h e m o s t w i d e ly r e c o g n i z e d a s t ro n o m i c a l objects, and represent the most fundamental building blocks of galaxies. the study of the birth, life, and death o f s ta r s i s c e n t r a l t o t h e f i e l d o f a s t r o n o m y. Stellar Nebulae Stars are the most widely recognized astronomical

Stellar Nurseries. R These dark molecular clouds

objects, and represent the most fundamental building

of gas described above can become stellar nurser-

blocks of galaxies. The age, distribution, and composi-

ies, providing an environment which allows stars

tion of the stars in a galaxy trace the history, dynam-

to be born. When pockets of the dark nebula have

ics, and evolution of that galaxy. RNebulae come in

sufficient density, hydrogen molecules will begin

an extraordinary variety of shapes, colors and sizes

to condense, this is possibly triggered by the shock-

making them some of the most spectacular and fas-

waves of a nearby supernova explosion. Clumps

cinating objects in our Universe. Thanks to the mod-

of hydrogen will grow large enough to begin col-

ern techniques of astrophotography the breath-tak-

lapsing under their own weight, heating up and

ing beauty of these clouds of gas and dust are being

creating the early stage of a star called a Protostar.

revealed. The names they are given often reflect the

Over thousands of years the young star continues

familiar shapes they form into, such as the Butterfly

to grow and heat up until its core is hot enough to

Nebula, Lemon Slice Nebula or North America Nebula.

allow nuclear fusion, this is when hydrogen atoms

Nebulae are not just a pretty face, they provide the

are fused together producing enormous amounts

material and environments from which stars are

of energy. RThe star is now in its main sequence

born, forming the basis from which entire plane-

and will remain in this state for most of its life.

tary systems can take shape, such as our own solar

Around 5 billion years ago such a process produced

system. R The abundance of hydrogen gas within nebulae provides the platform from which stars are created and the tiny dust particles eventually form into orbiting bodies around the new stars such as planets and asteroids. When those very same stars die the process will continue as the matter they eject into interstellar space will form into new nebulae.

Carl Sagan â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are a way for the universe to know itself â&#x20AC;?

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 15

F O R M AT I O N O F A S TA R internal structure

gas clouds The process starts with two gas clouds colliding.

collision Produces a shock front of high density.

star cluster It forms at the shock region and the young energy heats and dissipates the cloud.

a yellow dwarf star which was located several thou-

reflect light from a nearby star. The energy emit-

sand light years from the center of our galaxy. Out

ted by the nearby star or stars is not sufficient to

of the large disk of gas and dust that was formed

ionize the surrounding gas, so we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the

around the new star a small and important rocky

range of colors emitted by other nebulae. Instead

planet was created. This may seem insignificant but

the light is reflected off the dust in the nebula so

the conditions were just right to allow water to flow on its surface. RThis planet was our very own Earth

it is similar to the visible light given off by stars . The planetary nebulae are formed when stars sim-

and through the process of evolution these condi-

ilar to the size of the SunRThe hydrogen in their

tions ultimately allowed life to flourish on our world.

core is all used up and instead begin fusing hydrogen

The emission nebulae emit their own light due its

in an outer shell surrounding the core. This results

star forming regions. The ultra violet light emitted by

in them expanding to hundreds of times in their

clusters of large, young stars ionize the surrounding

original size and becoming the famous red giants.

gas into various colors. The light emitted will depend

Eventually the core heats up enough to begin fusing

on the type of gas, many emission nebulae appear red

helium, when the helium runs out the star becomes

due to the presence of large amounts of hydrogen gas.

unstable and its outer layers are ejected leaving only

Dark NebulaeRDark nebulae are dense areas of gas

the core remaining in the form of a white dwarf. The

and dust that block out any light coming from behind.

radiation emitted by the white dwarf ionizes the sur-

They are often seen in conjunction with emission or

rounding gas, producing spectacular color displays.

reflection nebulae. Very large dark nebulae can often

Supernova Remnants. RWhen these stars become

be seen with the naked eye as dark patches against

unstable and violent, explosion rips them apart scat-

the brighter areas of the Milky Way. The famous

tering matter in all directions at incredible speeds.

Horse-head Nebula (pictured left) is a dark nebula.

The material ejected will eventually form into a

Reflection Nebulae, as the name suggests reflec-

nebula fertilization, the egg has finished meiosis,

tion nebulae do not emit their own light, they

and become a mature oocyte when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fertilized.

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CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;˘ chapter

0 1 { Gems of

the Universe }

ST E L L A R N U RS E RY fetus development

It's only been a week, but already your newborn knows she can rely on you. By now, she can recognize your voice. and lets her know that she's not alone. So the more you talk to her, the better.

This week, your baby can focus on objects 8 to 14 inches away just about the distance between his blue eyes and yours during feedings. In fact, babies this age prefer faces to other objects. When you feed him or her, move your head slowly from side to side and see if the eyes follow you helps them .

Though her movements are still random and jerky, your baby can control her body in one amazing way by this week. As you hold her, watch how she adjusts her posture towards you. She finds your arms and even your scent is calming and comforting.

Have you noticed your baby using his vocal chords in ways other than crying? They may coo and make an "Ahh" sounds this week, especially when he sees the parents. Babies learn this by mimicking so go ahead and replay his favorite sounds back to the loves the attention.

This week, their movements are smoother and more purposeful. The random, and jerky motions are beginning to disappear. She's not ready for gym class, but try to give her time each day for using her body. "fly" by resting on you.

At about this age, the baby will flash an adorable gummy grin that is his first genuine smile. How can you tell? His eyes will brighten and widen as their moves his mouth upwards. By smiling back and cooing to him, you'll do more than get another smile.

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 17

7-8

Your baby's world now alive with the sound of music this week. Sounds fascinate them, especially the high tones and pitches. She's also interested in hearing you talk, and will stare intently at your mouth as you speak to her.

Your four-month-old is getting stronger by the day. She may protest when she's placed on her stomach, but she needs tummy time every day for exercising her neck, chest, rib cage and arm muscles. These muscle groups are necessary for rolling over, sitting up, and crawling all over.

By week 20, your baby will now measure around 16.5cm long, head to rump and around 25cm from head to heel. They are around the size of a banana and growing quickly! Still having fun turning over.

At around nine months, a baby can create many memories from his experiences. He might look at a ball, remember how it moves, then push it or bounce it. He's even able to set fun goals for himself like making noise from a pan by crawling to it and even banging it.

20-36

age (weeks)

Your baby is busy this week. Their starting to make sense of their senses so they can look at a rattle and connect to the sound it makes. She's also developing more sophisticated tastes in color, too, preferring bright colors and three dimensional objects over flat black and white ones.

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CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;˘ chapter

0 1 { Gems of

the Universe }

Protostar Stars are cosmic energy engines that produce heat,

these stars in a galaxy trace the history, dynamics,

light, ultraviolet rays, x-rays, and other forms of

and evolution of that galaxy.

radiation. They are composed largely of gas and

in an extraordinary variety of shapes, colors and

R Nebulae

come

plasma, a important superheated state of matter

sizes making them some of the most spectacular

composed of subatomic particles. Stars are the

and fascinating objects in our Universe. Thanks to

most widely recognized astronomical objects, and

the new modern techniques of astrophotography

represent the most fundamental building blocks of

the breath-taking beauty of these clouds of gas and

galaxies. The age, distribution, and composition of

dust are being revealed every day. The names they

STELLAR SPECTRAL TYPES t y p e

p r o m i n e n t

s p e c t r a l

l i n e s

c o l o r

H +, He, H, O 2, N 2,, C 2, Si 3+

Blue

He, H, C +, O +,, N +, Fe 2+ , Mg 2+

Bluish White

H, ionized metals

White

H, Ca +, Ti +,Fe +

Yellowish White

Ca +, Ti, Fe, Mg, H, some molecular bands

Yellow

Ca +, H, molecular bands

Orange

TiO, Ca, molecular bands

Red

p a g e • 19

are given often reflect the familiar shapes they

gas within the nebulae provides the platform

form into, such as the Butterfly Nebula, Lemon

from which stars are created and the tiny dust

R Thee

particles eventually form into orbiting bodies

Nebulae are not just a pretty face, they provide

around these new stars like the planets and

the material and environments from which stars

asteroids. When those very same stars die the

are born, forming the basis from which entire

process will continue as the matter they eject

Slice Nebula or North America Nebula.

planetary systems can take shape, such as our

into the vast interstellar space will form into

own solar system. The abundance of hydrogen

new nebulae c ollapsing under their own weight.

Stellar classification The classification of stars based on their spectral

a v e r a g e

t e m p e r a t u r e

e x a m p l e

characteristics. Light from the star is analyzed by splitting it with a prism or diffraction grating into a complex spectrum exhibiting the rainbow

80,000°F.(45,000°C)

Regor

of colors interspersed with absorption lines. Each line indicates an ion of a certain chemical element, with the line strength indicating the abundance

55,000°F.(30,000°C)

Rigel

of that very ion. The relative abundance of these different ions varies with the temperature of the

22,000°F.(12,000°C)

photosphere. The spectral class of a star is a short Sirius

code summarizing the ionization state, giving an objective measure of the photosphere's high tem-

14,000°F.(8,000°C)

Procyon

perature and density. R Most of these stars are currently classified under the Morgan Keenan (MK) system using the letters O, B, A, F, G, K, and M,

12,000°F.(6,500°C)

The Sun

a sequence from the hottest (O type) to the coolest (M type). Each letter class is then subdivided using a numeric digit with 0 being hottest and 9 being

9,000°F.(5,000°C)

Aldebaran

coolest (e.g. A8, A9, F0, F1 form a sequence from hotter to cooler). The sequence has been expanded

6,500°F.(3,500°C)

Betelgeuse

with classes for other stars and star-like objects that do not fit in the classical system, such as class D for white dwarfs and class C for carbon stars.

{R} 02 03 04

CHAPTER

MAIN SEQUENCE Stars and the Soul • Stellar Adulthood Main Sequence: Internal Structure • H-R Diagram

CELESTIAL BEINGS• chapter

0 2 { Main Sequence }

STA R S A N D T H E S O U L

henry van dyke “Two things,” the wise man said, “fill me with awe: The starry heavens and the moral law.” Nay, add another wonder to thy roll, The living marvel of the human soul! Born in the dust and cradled in the dark, It feels the fire of an immortal spark, And learns to read, With patient, searching eyes, The splendid secret of the unconscious skies. What knows the star that guides the sailor’s way, Or lights the lover’s bower with liquid ray, Of toil and passion, danger and distress, Brave hope, true love, and utter faithfulness? For lessons brighter than the stars can give, And inward light that helps us all to live. The star-discoverer’s name with high renown; Accept the flower of love we lay with these For influence sweeter than the Pleiades!

p a g e â&#x20AC;¢ 25

01 {R} 03 04

UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUU

CELESTIAL BEINGS• chapter

0 2 { Main Sequence }

S T E L L A R A D U LT H O O D

w e u s ua l ly d o n o t s t o p t o t h i n k t h a t s o m e o f t h e s ta r s that twinkle in the midnight sky were extinguished eons a g o, t h e i r l i g h t h av i n g l e f t t h e d i s ta n t s ta r t h o u s a n d s o f y e a rs b e f o r e t h at, s t i l l t rav e l i n g t o wa r d u s . The Human Body We usually do not stop to think that some of the stars

simply reflects what is readily available around us.

that twinkle in the midnight sky were extinguished

This process uses atoms of carbon, nitrogen and

eons ago, their light having left the distant star

oxygen as techemically useful form and quantity.

perhaps thousands of years before that, still traveling

Once a protostar starts burning hydrogen in its

toward us as the star itself exploded and vanished.

core, it quickly passes through the T-Tauri stage (in

Despite the universe’s appearance as a timeless,

a few million years) and becomes a main sequence

permanent fixture, individual objects in space have

star where its total mass determines all its structural

different ages too. We can trace back the universe

properties. R The three divisions in a stellar interior

as a whole to moments after the Big Bang, but most

are the nuclear burning core, convective zone and

of the stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies

radiative zone. Energy, in the form of gamma-rays, is

that make up the uncountable galaxies have not

generated solely in the nuclear burning core. Energy

existed since the beginning of time. Instead, early

is transferred towards the surface either in a radiative

generations have “died” while new ones have been

manner or convection depending on which is more

formed.

R Realizing

how fluid we are and how

efficient at the temperatures, densities and opacities.

impermanent everything around us truly is, we

Main-sequence stars employ two types of hydrogen

should think differently about the materials that

fusion processes, and the rate of energy generation

we take into our bodies to quench our thirst and

from each type depends on the temperature in the

feed our hunger: this material does not simply flow

core region. Astronomers divide the main sequence

through our gut, but is assimilated into the very

into upper and lower parts, based on which of the

structure of our bodies until, after some time, it

two is the dominant fusion process. In the lower main

leaves it again in some other form. R Our bodies

sequence, energy is primarily generated as the result of

are very complex chemical machineries, as are

the proton-proton chain, which directly fuses hydrogen

those of all living things on this planet, but the

together in a series of stages to produce helium.

mixture of the elements used in our chemistry

Stars in the upper main sequence have sufficiently

p a g e • 27

high core temperatures to efficiently use the CNO

main sequence stage of their lives, a point in

cycle. (See the chart.) R This process uses atoms of

their stellar evolution where they’re converting

carbon, nitrogen and oxygen as intermediaries in the

hydrogen into helium in their cores and

process of fusing hydrogen into helium. At a stellar

releasing a tremendous amount of energy. Let’s

core temperature of 18 Million Kelvin, the PP process

example the main sequence phase of a star’s life

and CNO cycle are equally efficient, and each type

and see what role it plays in a star’s evolution.

generates half of the star's net luminosity. As this

A star first forms out of a cold cloud of molecular

is the core temperature of a star with about 1.5 M,

hydrogen and helium. R Mutual gravity pulls the

the upper main sequence consists of stars above this

stellar material together, and this gravitational

mass. Thus, roughly speaking, stars of spectral class

energy heats it up. The star first goes through a

F or cooler belong to the lower main sequence, while

protostar phase for about 100,000 years, and then

A-type stars or hotter are upper main-sequence stars.

T Tauri phase, where it shines only with the energy

The transition in primary energy production from one

released from its ongoing gravitational collapse.

form to the other spans a range difference of less than

Stars begin their lives as 74% hydrogen, 25% helium

a single solar mass. In the Sun, a one solar-mass star,

and 1% everything else on the periodic table (by

only 1.5% of the energy is generated by the CNO cycle.

mass). Fusion has been ongoing in the core of the

By contrast, stars with 1.8 M or above generate almost

Sun for 5 billion years, and its core is now about

their entire energy output through the CNO cycle.

29% hydrogen, 70% helium and 1% everything else,

Most of the stars in the Universe are in the

It takes thousands to billions of years to run out.

MAIN SEQUENCE internal structure

radioactive zone o star

g star

m star

{60 solar masses}

{1 solar mass}

{0.1 solar masess}

convective zone nuclear burning zone

01 {R} 03 04

CELESTIAL BEINGS• chapter

0 2 { Main Sequence }

O -10

H E RT ZS P RU N G RU S S E L L

-5

In the early 1900’s the Ejnar Hertzsprung and Henry Norris Russell developed the very important Hertzsprung Russell diagram (H-R diagram) is an essential astronomical tool that represented a major step towards understanding how stars evolve over time. Stellar evolution can not be studied by observing individual stars as most changes occur over several millions and billions of years. The astrophysicists observe numerous stars at various stages in their evolutionary history to determine their changing properties and probable evolutionary tracks across the H-R diagram. R The H-R diagram

absolute magnitude

diagram

is a scatter graph of stars a plot of stellar absolute magnitude or luminosity versus surface temperature

1/10

or stellar classification. Stages of stellar evolution

SOL

occupy specific regions on the H-R diagram and exhibit similar properties. One class of stars – the pulsating variables which include Cepheids, RR Lyraes, Semiregulars and Miras occupy regions

+10

of instability on the H-R diagram and represent

1/100

transitional periods between stages of evolution.

+15

1/100

0 SO LAR

DIA

SOL

MET

+20 40,000

20,000

AR D IAM

ETE

LAR

p a g e â&#x20AC;¢ 29

spectral class

F 1 000

1 00

SOL

AR D IAM E

M 100,000,000

SOL

AR D IAM E

TER

10,000

10 S OLA R

DIA

MET

100

1 SO L

AR D IAM

ETE

luuminosity(sun=1)

red giants

DIA

MET

main sequence

0.01

0.0001

white dwarfs

10,000

7,000

5,000

surface temperature (k)

3,000

2,500

01 {R} 03 04

0.0001 14,000

CHAPTER

MIDDLE AGED GIANT Meditation Under the Stars • Middle Aged Star Inside a Red Star • Red Giants Supergiants •Star Comparison

CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;¢ chapter

0 3 { Middle Aged Giant }

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M E D I TAT I O N U N D E R S TA R S

george meredith What links are ours with orbs that are So resolutely far: The solitary asks, they give radiance as from a shield: Still at the death of day, The seen, the unrevealed. Implacable they shine To us who would of Life obtain An answer for the life we strain To nourish with one sign. Nor can imagination throw The penetrative shaft: we pass The breath of thought, who would divine If haply they may grow As Earth; have our desire to know; If life comes there to grain from grass, And flowers like ours of toil and pain; Has passion to beat bar, Win space from cleaving brain; The mystic link attain, Whereby star holds on star.

01 02 {R} 04

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 35

CELESTIAL BEINGS• chapter

0 3 { Middle Aged Giant }

George Bernard “You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing”

p a g e • 37

M I D D L E AG E D STA R

a red giant star is a dying star in the last stages of s t e l l a r e v o l u t i o n . i n o n ly a f e w b i l l i o n y e a r s , o u r o w n s u n w i l l t u r n i n t o a r e d g i a n t s ta r , e x pa n d a n d e n g u l f t h e i n n e r p l a n e t s , p o s s i b ly e v e n e a r t h . Red Giant When a star like our sun reaches the end of its life,

Once a star exhausts this fuel source, it no longer has

it enters one last phase, ballooning up to many times

the outward light pressure to counteract the gravity

its original size. Astronomers call these objects red

pulling in on itself. And so, the star begins to collapse.

giant star, they are very important and you will want

Before the star can collapse too far, though, this

to learn more about them, since this is the future fate

contraction heats up a shell of hydrogen around the

for the sun. R Don’t panic, we’ve got another 7 billion

core of the star to the point that it can support nuclear

years or so before the sun becomes a red giant star.

fusion. The higher temperatures lead to increasing

As you probably know, stars shine because they’re

reaction rates, and the star’s energy output increases

converting hydrogen into helium in their cores

by a factor of 1000 to 1000x. This new extreme light

through a process called nuclear fusion. Our own

pressure pushes out the star’s outer layers beginning

Sun has been performing fusion at its core for 4.5

its life as a red giant star.R A red giant will expand

billion years, and will continue to do so for another

outward many times its original size. Our own Sun, for

7 billions years, at least. The helium byproduct from

example will grow so large that it engulfs the orbits

this fusion reaction slowly builds up in the core of a

of Mercury, Venus and even Earth; although, it’s not

star, and they have no way to get rid of it. Eventually,

certain if Earth will actually be destroyed when this

billions of year down the road, a star uses up the

happens. The core of the star will become so hot and

R Realizing

how fluid

dense that the leftover helium fuel will no able to star

we are and how impermanent everything around

fusing into heavier elements. Stars with the mass of our

us truly is, we should think differently about the

Sun will stop with helium, but more massive stars will

materials that we take into our bodies to quench

keep going, fusing carbon and even heavier elements

our thirst and feed our hunger: this material does

together. The temperature and pressure at the core of

not simply flow through our gut, but is assimilated

the star will eventually reach the point that helium can

into the very structure of our bodies until, after

be fused into carbon. Once a star reaches this point,

some time, it leaves it again in some other form.

can continue on in this process, moving up the table.

last of its hydrogen fuel.

01 02 {R} 04

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I N S I D E A R E D S TA R chemical reactions

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 39

fusion of iron

fusion of silicon

fusion of nitrogen

fusion of carbon

fusion of helium

non-fusion hydrogen

01 02 {R} 04

CELESTIAL BEINGS• chapter

0 3 { Middle Aged Giant }

Red Giant When a star like our sun reaches the end of its life,

by a factor of 1000 to 1000x. This new extreme light

it enters one last phase, ballooning up to many times

pressure pushes out the star’s outer layers beginning

its original size. Astronomers call these objects red

its life as a red giant star.R A red giant will expand

giant star, they are very important and you will want

outward many times its original size. Our own Sun, for

to learn more about them, since this is the future fate

example will grow so large that it engulfs the orbits

for the sun. R Don’t panic, we’ve got another 7 billion

of Mercury, Venus and even Earth; although, it’s not

years or so before the sun becomes a red giant star.

certain if Earth will actually be destroyed when this

As you probably know, stars shine because they’re

happens. The core of the star will become so hot and

converting hydrogen into helium in their cores

dense that the leftover helium fuel will no able to star

through a process called nuclear fusion. Our own

fusing into heavier elements. Stars with the mass of our

Sun has been performing fusion at its core for 4.5

Sun will stop with helium, but more massive stars will

billion years, and will continue to do so for another

keep going, fusing carbon and even heavier elements

7 billions years, at least. The helium byproduct from

together. The temperature and pressure at the core of

this fusion reaction slowly builds up in the core of a

the star will eventually reach the point that helium can

star, and they have no way to get rid of it. Eventually,

be fused into carbon. Once a star reaches this point,

billions of year down the road, a star uses up the

can continue on in this process, moving up the table.

last of its hydrogen fuel. R Realizing how fluid we are and how impermanent everything around

SuperGiants

us truly is, we should think differently about the

A star that is larger, brighter, and more massive

materials that we take into our bodies to quench

than a giant star, and is unbelievably thousands of

our thirst and feed our hunger: this material does

times brighter than the Sun and having a relatively

not simply flow through our gut, but is assimilated

short lifespan of only about 10 to 50 million years

into the very structure of our bodies until, after

as opposed to around 5 billion years for the Sun.

some time, it leaves it again in some other form.

Supergiants have masses from 8 to 12 times the Sun

Once a star exhausts this fuel source, it no longer has

(M) upwards, and luminosities from about 10,000 to

the outward light pressure to counteract the gravity

over a million times the Sun (L). RThey vary greatly

pulling in on itself. And so, the star begins to collapse.

in radius, usually from 30 to 500, or even in excess

Before the star can collapse too far, though, this

of 1,000 solar radii (R). They are massive enough

contraction heats up a shell of hydrogen around the

to begin core helium burning gently before the core

core of the star to the point that it can support nuclear

becomes degenerate, without a flash, and without the

fusion. The higher temperatures lead to increasing

strong dredge-ups that lower-mass stars experience.

reaction rates, and the star’s energy output increases

They go on to successively ignite heavier elements,

p a g e • 41

usually all the way to iron. Also because of their high

supergiants can also turn blue if their own rate of

masses they are destined to explode as supernovae.

nuclear fusion begins to slow down. In fact, a star

Supergiants come in a huge variety of sizes and

can actually continually switch between being a

temperatures, but they are only generally classed

red and blue supergiant over its lifetime. Between

as being either red or blue. R Red supergiants have

the two extremes it becomes a yellow super-giant

a mass at least eight times that of our Sun, and are

such as the north star, Polaris. The largest known

generally old stars that were once similar in size to

supergiant star, VY Canis Majoris, is up to 2,100

the Sun. They form when a star more than 10 times

times the size of the Sun (based on upper estimates).

mass of our Sun runs out of its hydrogen fuel in

If it were put in the position of the Sun, it would

its core, preventing fusion from occurring there. It

extend out to the orbit of Saturn. R However, stars

subsequently begins collapsing but, as it does so,

of this nature generally spend the majority of their

the hydrogen in its outer shells begins fusion of its

time as red supergiants rather than blue or yellow.

own. At this point the entire star experiences fusion

This period in life is usually satisfying, tranquil.

and begins to burn through the rest of its hydrogen

Personality characteristics remain stable throughout

at an astounding rate. In fact, they can burn all of

this period. It quite often that a middle aged family

their remaining hydrogen in just a few million years,

member must experience the death of one’s parents.

compared to the several billion year lifetime of stars

This makes the issue of mortality irrefutably.

like our Sun. R During this time they will shine at

As children grow and leave the one’s role as caregiver.

least 100,000 times brighter than the Sun. At the

Those in middle adulthood come to the realization

end of their life, red supergiant stars often explode

that life will not last forever and that there are

as a supernova, producing either a neutron star or a

limitations to what one might accomplish or achieve.

black hole in the process. The nearby red supergiant

As children grow and leave the one’s role as caregiver

Betelgeuse, which is 1,000 times the mass of the

and provider changes. The relationships in middle

Sun, is only 8.5 million years old but it is expected

adulthood evolve into connections that’s stable.

to go supernova within the next 1,000 years. Blue supergiants are considerably hotter than red supergiants, but generally much smaller, only about 25 times the size of the Sun. R Supergiants they have very short lifetimes of only a few million

Criss Jami

“As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning”

years. They usually form when a star more than 10 times the mass of the Sun heading towards its own demise enters a slow burning phase. However, red

01 02 {R} 04

CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;˘ chapter

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S TA R C O M PA R I S O N from dwarf to hyper giants

neutron star Dead remains of huge stars.

white dwarf The sun and other dwarfs corpses

blue supergiant These stars are (class I) of spectral type O. With surface temperatures of between 20,000 - 50,000Ë&#x161;c

brown dwarf Failed Star

red dwarf The most common star. Either K or M class.

blue hyper-giant A star with an enormous mass and luminosity, showing signs of a very high rate of mass loss.

yellow dwarf The sun G class Main Sequence star. The sun is 92.96 million mi.

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 43

blue dwarf Is a predicted class of star that develops from a red dwarf after it has exhausted much of its hydrogen fuel supply.

red giant Develops from a red dwarf after it has exhausted much of its hydrogen fuel supply.

blue giant star A hot star with a luminosity class of III (giant) or II (bright giant).

red hypergiant red supergiant They are the largest stars in the universe in terms of volume,although they are not the most massive.

All Magellanic Cloud red hypergiants detected around a dozen M class stars Mvâ&#x2C6;&#x2019;7 and brighter, around a quarter of a million times more luminous than the Sun.

01 02 {R} 04

CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;¢ chapter

0 1 { Introduction }

CHAPTER

W H I T E DWA R F Song of the Star • An Aging Soul Evolution of Longevity • The Life Cycle

CELESTIAL BEINGS• chapter

0 4 { White Dwarf }

S O N G O F T H E STA R

suzy kassem I am nothing but Oxygen and hydrogen, A luminous sphere of plasma Held together By helium and gravity, And like a balloon I float on earth, Waiting to be released back into the sky, Waiting to go back in the reverse direction From which I came, Traveling through a warm tunnel of light, And out into a dark, cold abyss Where I will explode into a thousand pieces. I shall leave behind my body, Just like air abandons the skin of A shattered balloon, And the magnetic dust that carries my Heart and spirit will lift us back To congregate and shine with the stars. Home again, In the fluorescent Kingdom of the constellations, I will once again be called by My soul’s true name. And my heart, It will flicker again, With every memory From its many Lifetimes, And with every wish Made by a child.”

p a g e â&#x20AC;¢ 49

01 02 03 {R}

CELESTIAL BEINGS• chapter

0 4 { White Dwarf }

AN AGING SOUL

the stars in the sky may seem ageless and unchanging, but e v e n t u a l ly m o s t o f t h e m w i l l t u r n i n t o w h i t e d w a r f s , the last stage of evolution. these dim stellar corpses d o t t h e g a l a x y, l e f t o v e r s f r o m b r i g h t ly b u r n i n g s ta r s .

Ancient Stars In addition to internal tissue dynamics, the process

remnant might start out hot, but it unfortunately

of aging is also considerably influenced by the

has no fusion reactions taking place inside it any

local environment as well as by a person’s lifestyle.

more. R It will eventually cool down over hundreds

These effects can either accelerate or slow the

of billions of years, eventually becoming the

effects of aging. This can be seen under the best of

background temperature of the incredible Universe.

circumstances, however, the rate overall of aging

When they reach the end of their long evolutions,

rapidly increases with the number of years since

smaller stars—those up to eight times as massive

birth. R In the end, we do not simply die of old

as our own sun—typically become white dwarfs.

age, as it is often said, but rather of an unfortunate

These marvelous ancient stars are incredibly dense.

decline in cellular vitality, which in turn permits

A teaspoonful of their matter would weigh as much

diseases to develop when cell damage accumulates

as on Earth as an elephant will—5.5 tons. White

and prevents cells from being efficiently replaced.

dwarfs typically have a smaller radius just .01 times

Nevertheless, given that we do not seem to all age at

that of our own sun, but their mass is about the same.

the same level, there must be individual differences.

R The main sequence transition in primary energy

The rate at which we age and that at which age-

production from one form to the other spans a range

related diseases manifest themselves are moderated

difference of less than a single solar mass star like

by internal reactions. R These reactions regulate

our very sun fuse hydrogen in their cores into helium.

the body’s healing and the body’s response to

The very faint white dwarfs are stars that have burned

conditions that cause stress to our tissues and cells.

up all of the hydrogen they once used as nuclear fuel.

A star with the mass of our Sun doesn’t have the

The fusion in a star’s core produces a lot of

gravitational pressure to fuse carbon, so once it runs

heat and a huge amount of outward pressure,

out of helium at its core, it’s effectively dead. The star

but this pressure is kept in check and balance by

will eject its outer layers into space, and then contract

the inward push of gravity generated by a star’s

down, eventually becoming a white dwarf.This stellar

mass. When the hydrogen used as fuel vanishes.

p a g e â&#x20AC;˘ 51

Stars begin their lives as 74% hydrogen, 25% helium and

effects of aging and the collective experiences and

1% everything of everything else on the periodic table

shared values of that generation to the particular.

(by mass). Fusion has been ongoing in the core of the

There is not any universally accepted age that is

Sun for 5 billion years, and its core is now about 29%

considered old among or within societies R Those

hydrogen, 70% helium and 1% everything else. Fusion

in a binary star system like the white dwarfs may

alters the chemical composition of stellar interiors.

have a strong enough gravitational pull to gather

Note that since the cores of the stars are so massive,

in material from a neighboring star. When a white

it takes anywhere from 100's of thousands to billions

dwarf takes on enough mass in this manner it

of years to run out of hydrogen fuel.R For statistical

reaches a level called the chandrasekhar limit. At

and public administrative purposes, however, old age

this point the pressure at its center will become so

is frequently defined as 60 or 65 years of age or older.

great that runaway fusion occurs and the star will

This is the main last stage in the life processes of

detonate in a thermonuclear supernova. The so called

an individual, and it is an age group or generation

senescence, in human beings, the final stage of the

comprising a segment of the oldest members of a

normal life span. The definitions of old age are not

population. The many social aspects of old age are

consistent from the views and standpoints of biology,

influenced by the relationship of the physiological

demography, employment and retirement, sociology.

EVOLUTION OF LONGEVITY

Human Aging

young

Genetic basis of human aging (dark purple)

old

long lived models

short lived models Age-related changes in gene expression (blue) short lifespan

long lifespan

01 02 03 {R}

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T H E L I F E C YC L E

MIDDLE AGE

ADULTHOOD

ADOLESCENCE

RED GIANT

MAIN SEQUENCE INFANCY

PROTOSTAR FETUS

HUMAN LIFE

PREGNANCY

S TA R L I F E

NEBULAE

of stars and humans

SUPERNOVAE

BLACK HOLE DEATH

OLD AGE

WHITE DWARF

p a g e • 53

Franklin Gillette “Birth and death are words we chose to describe the doorways in and out of a cycle. This cycle is connected to a larger cycle which awaits our return”

01 02 03 {R}

CELESTIAL BEINGSâ&#x20AC;¢ bibliography

{bibliography}

IMAGES www.chandra.harvard.edu www.corysmithphotography.com www.dollarphotoclub.com www.hubblesite.org www.nasa.gov

WEBSITES www.abyss.uoregon.edu www.astronomyonline.org www.authorsden.com www.britannica.com www.chandra.harvard.edu www.denoyer.com www.goodreads.com www.justmommies.com www.nasa.gov www.poemhunter.com www.science.nationalgeographic.com www.solarsystemquick.com www.spaceanswers.com www.thinkingwithtype.com www.universetoday.com

p a g e • 57

TEXT anderson, and van der marel “Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Animation.” www.spacetelescope.org. Nasa, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015. b r e c h e r , k e n n e t h . “Star Astronomy.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. c a i n , f r a s e r . “Fusion in the Sun.” Universe Today. Universe Today: Space and Astronomy News, 26 Sept. 2008. Web. 17 Jan. 2016. d y k e , h e n r y v a n . “Stars And The Soul.” Poemhunter.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. g i l l e t t e , f r a n k l i n . “Quotes About Cycle Of Life.” Good Reads. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. h u n t e r , d a y a n a n d a n “The Birth Of A Star

l u p t o n , e l l e n . Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students. 2nd ed. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2004. Print. 30 Dec. 2015 r e d d , n o l a t a y l o r . “Red Giant Stars.” Space. N.p., 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 21 Nov. 2015. rees, martin, and robert dinwiddie. Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2005. Print. Sagan, Carl. “Quotes About Stardust.” Good Reads. Carlsagan.com/, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. s c h n e i d e r , s t e p h e n e . , a n d t h o m a s a r n y. Pathways to Astronomy. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2007. Print. schrijver, karel, and iris schrijver.

Poem.” Poemhunter.com. N.p., 15 Sept. 2015. Web.

Living with the Stars: How the Human Body

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Is Connected to the Life Cycles of the Earth, the

l i m a t o l a , l u c a . “Cosmic Cloak of Red.” NASA. Ed. Karl Hillie. NASA, ESA, and D. Gouliermis (University of Heidelberg), 30 July 2015. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. l o f f, s a r a h . “Celestial Fireworks.” NASA. Ed. Sarah Ramsey. NASA, 23 Apr. 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. l o g a n , k a r e n . “A Star Is Born.” Authors Den. authorsden.com, 21 Apr. 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2015

Planets, and the Stars. Kindle. Oxford University Press. Web. 8 Aug. 2015. s e r g e , m e u n i e r . “The Butterfly Nebula.” Nasagov. NASA/ESA/Hubble, 7 June 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. s m i t h , c o r y “Portraiture .” Cory Smith Photography. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. v o l k , k e v i n ; k w o k , s u n ( July 1, 1989). “Evolution of protoplanetary nebulae”. Astrophysical Journal, Part 1. Web. 9 June 2015.

this book was designed by: Yvonne Michelle Anaya Academy of Art University Typography 3 Fall 2015 fonts: Clifford Nine Italic Clifford Eighteen Roman Clifford Eighteen All Caps Mr. Eaves Sans OT software: Adobe Indesign CC Adobe Photoshop CC Adobe Illustrator CC printer: Imagink Printery &Bindery 100lb Uncoated Paper This is a student project and has not been published. Some text and images have been used with the sole purpose of inspiration.