Super-Asymptotic Giant Branch Star (IMAGE)

University of California - Santa Barbara

Super-Asymptotic Giant Branch Star

Caption

Artist impressions of a super-asymptotic giant branch star and its core made up of oxygen, neon and magnesium. This is the end state of stars around 8-10 solar masses, whose core is pressure supported by electrons. When the core becomes dense enough, neon and magnesium start to eat up electrons, reducing the core pressure and inducing a core-collapse supernova explosion.

Credit

S. Wilkinson; Las Cumbres Observatory

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