The Night Sky, Explainedby Dmitry Shteynbuk
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How stars workDefinedTerm

White dwarf

The exposed carbon-oxygen core left after a Sun-like star sheds its outer layers.

About the size of Earth but 60% of the Sun's mass. Slowly cools over billions of years.

Used in these guides

  • The HR Diagram: The Single Most Useful Chart in AstronomyHow stars work
  • How Stars Die: White Dwarfs, Neutron Stars, and Black HolesHow stars work
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The Night Sky, Explained — by Dmitry Shteynbuk, Miami, Florida

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