What Makes Some Stars Explode and Others Simply Fade?

Stars are like giant, burning balls of gas. When they run out of fuel, some explode in a bright flash, while others just slowly dim down and fade away. It all depends on how big the star is and what happens inside it when it dies.

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Examples

A small star like our Sun will turn into a red giant before becoming a white dwarf, like a slow-burning fire that cools down to ash.
A large star may explode as a supernova, like lighting the night sky on fire for days.
When two stars orbit each other, one may take material from its companion and eventually explode in an even brighter flash.

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Categories: Space · stars· supernova· astronomy· stellar evolution· cosmic events