Are All the Stars We See Actually Dead?

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In summary, according to a physics teacher, the stars we see today are either dead or near death. This is due to the time it takes for the light from the star to reach us, which can be up to 200 light years. However, this does not apply to all stars, as the light from some very distant galaxies could be billions of years old and the stars may no longer exist. Most of the stars visible to the naked eye are within a few hundred to a few thousand light years, so they are likely still alive. Only the stars in very distant galaxies have a higher chance of being dead. This was clarified by the speaker, who also noted that only the largest telescopes on Earth can detect these distant galaxies.
  • #1
Maroc
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All the stars are Dead !??!

My physics teacher says all the stars we see today are ones that are either dead or near death. All this is due to light. When a star is first created we don't see it take around 200 light years for the light of the star to reach us.

Is that amazing or what?

is any of it true ?
 
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  • #2


Partly,
We see stars at the time the light left them so for very distant galaxies seen by a large telescope that light could be billions of years old and the stars no longer exist.
Most of the stars you see with your eye are within a few 100 to a few 1000 light years so they probably haven't changed much
 
  • #3


Every star that you can see, even with a large telescope, is almost certainly still alive. Only the stars in distant galaxies have a good chance of being dead, but those galaxies are so far away that only the largest telescopes on Earth can pick them out.
 
  • #4


Ah okay. Thanks for the clear up.
 

1. What does the phrase "all the stars are dead" mean?

The phrase "all the stars are dead" refers to the idea that all of the stars in the universe will eventually die. This is because stars are powered by nuclear fusion, which will eventually run out of fuel and cause the star to die.

2. How do stars die?

Stars die in a variety of ways depending on their size. Smaller stars, like our Sun, will eventually run out of fuel and become a white dwarf. Larger stars, called supergiants, will end their lives in a massive explosion known as a supernova. Some stars can even collapse into a black hole.

3. What happens to the universe when all the stars die?

When all the stars in the universe die, the universe will continue to expand and cool. Eventually, all the remaining matter and energy in the universe will become too spread out and the universe will essentially become a cold, dark, and empty place.

4. How long does it take for stars to die?

The lifespan of a star varies depending on its size, but on average, a star like our Sun will last for about 10 billion years. Larger stars will have shorter lifespans, while smaller stars can live for trillions of years.

5. Is it possible for new stars to form after all the stars die?

Yes, it is possible for new stars to form even after all the stars in the universe have died. This is because there is still a vast amount of matter and energy in the universe, which can come together and form new stars through processes such as star collisions and gravitational collapse.

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