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You are here: Home / Space / What Are Stars Made Of and How Do Astronomers Determine What Stars Are Made Of?

What Are Stars Made Of and How Do Astronomers Determine What Stars Are Made Of?

April 8, 2020 by Karen Hill

A star is a big luminous ball of plasma held together by gravity.

Stars are made mostly of hydrogen and helium, along with small amounts of calcium, iron, and titanium oxide.

The amounts of these elements differ from star to star.

Astronomers can tell what elements are in a star, and how much of each, by studying the various wavelengths of a star’s electromagnetic radiation.

A star’s electromagnetic radiation can also tell us how old it is, or when it was formed.

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  • Who Discovered Electromagnetic Radiation, Radio Waves, and Electromagnetic Spectrum?
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Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What Is Apparent Magnitude and How Do Astronomers Measure a Star’s Apparent Magnitude?
Next Post: How Bright Are Stars and How Many Different Ways Can Astronomers Determine a Star’s Brightness? »

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