• Question: what are stars made of

    Asked by 722sptm26 to Guy on 8 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Guy Rixon

      Guy Rixon answered on 8 Mar 2018:


      They contain hot gas – mainly hydrogen, with some helium. (Helium is named after the greek sun-god Helios because it was first discovered in the sun.) They have traces of heavier elements, all the way up the periodic table to iron. Elements heavier than iron are made when stars explode as supernovae.

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