Human beings have always been fascinated with the unknown. This fascination to know more stems from our curiosity as little children. Believe it or not, kids are even more curious than adults. The sky is boundless and as kids, we are reeled in by its vast expanse. Even as we grow up, we recollect those cherished memories of lying down on the rooftop or lawn, looking up at those little twinkling bodies in the sky. So, what is a star? Stars, as we call them, are very large bodies of gas. They appear to us as small twinkling bodies of light because they are so far away from us. Stars are large balls of gases and can only be studied when seen through a telescope. However, such an in-depth scrutiny of stars requires expert knowledge and special equipment. So, you may be wondering how facts about stars are relevant to kids.
Facts about stars not only feed the curiosity of your little ones but also help them learn about our planet and the universe. Did you know that stars found in large groups are known as galaxies? While this may seem trivial to adults, it will pique the interest of your little ones and teach them new words along with the spelling of those words. It is impossible to fathom how many stars are there in the sky because our galaxy contains billions of stars and there are numerous galaxies in the entire world.
A star originates in a nebula or a district of dust and gas in space. A star goes through various stages in its life cycle and just like a human being, it changes and gets bigger. As a parent and caregiver, you must have always wondered about how to explain the concepts of stars and the universe to your little ones. If that’s what was on your mind, you’ve landed in the right place.
Features Of Stars
Simply put, stars are usually defined by their brightness. In addition to this, stars are also identifiable and classifiable into different categories based on their color, maximum temperature, size and mass. To get a better understanding of this, read on as we take you on a journey through our galaxy and explore the various kinds of stars in the sky.
How Many Stars Are In The Sky?
While it is practically impossible to look up at the sky and count the number of stars in the sky, thanks to astronomy, it is possible to get a rough estimate. Here’s a list of a few types of stars that can be found in the sky.
- Red Giant Star
- Red Supergiant Star
- Blue Giant Star
- White Dwarf Star
- Yellow Dwarf Star
- Red Dwarf Star
- Brown Dwarf Star
This star gets its name from its physical appearance. It is a large star as it is in its final stages of stellar evolution. It is also popularly referred to as the dying star.
This is nothing but a brighter type of red giant star. To give you a rough idea of how big these stars are, we’ll measure it against the sun. These stars are typically 100 to 1,600 times larger than the sun.
This type of star is commonly known for being very hot and extremely luminous. Since it is so hot, it always poses a threat of a great eruption.
These stars are stars that have exhausted all their fuel. They are dim and extremely dense and are often referred to as stellar corpses.
These are medium-sized stars that belong to the main sequence of spectral type G. At the end of its life, a yellow dwarf star ultimately becomes a red giant star.
These stars make up the largest population of stars in our solar system. They are not bright, but dim bodies of light that hide in their shadows. Most of these stars are far away from Earth and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
These bodies of light have a size between that of a large planet and that of a small star. These stars are always referred to as failed stars because they are not big enough to fuel hydrogen fusion reactions.
Facts About Stars
It is crucial to learn about stars for kids. Before parents can teach their kids about stars, it is integral for parents to know how to present relevant facts and information about stars to their little ones. Luckily for you, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few important facts about stars for kids.
- There are numerous stars in the sky.
- Stars can be seen at night in the sky.
- A group of stars is known as a galaxy.
- The sun is closer than any other star to Earth.
- All stars are made up of the same material, in varying amounts.
- The most common type of star is the Red Dwarf Star.
Why Do Stars Shine?
When the starlight enters our atmosphere it is affected by air current. Stars shine in the night sky because of the atmospheric refraction of the star’s light. The core of a star is excessively hot due to the build-up of gases. When great pressure squeezes the core some of the hydrogen gas in the star changes into helium. This process produces a great deal of energy and makes the star shine.
Here at EuroKids, we plant and nurture seeds of curiosity and desire to enable kids to explore different avenues of thought and education. Almost all major discoveries are a result of one brave man who dared to think differently and stand by his beliefs. We strive to incorporate this into our curriculum with a keen interest in stars and the solar system to foster a desire to explore and expand. If you want to learn more about how to teach your little ones, visit our blog or better yet, just head down to a EuroKids centre that is closest to you.
