35
seeding the interstellar medium with the processed matter from which our
Solar System was born. We are privileged to share in the knowledge that we
are recycled matter, and that this recycled matter which we are will continue
the Cosmic cycle to make new stars that will shine bright in a future firmament. We transcend death through evolution, which is nothing more than
another manifestation of life, a phase change, to put it eruditely.
The life and death of stars are peppered with violent evolutionary episodes.
Stars emerge in clusters after a dramatic birth and meet a catastrophic end
that seeds new stars. These violent episodes produce such beautiful and surprising objects as planetary nebulae, novae, supernovae, neutron stars, black
holes, and many exotic etceteras more. The stars, then, are factories of all the
elements of the periodic table, the true philosopher’s stone so eagerly sought
after by mediaeval alchemists.
Fig. 4.3 Stars and planets being born in immense clouds of interstellar gas and dust,
recycled by dying stars. The image shows the Lagoon Nebula (M8), The Trifid Nebula
(M20), and NGC 6559, all at a distance of some 5000 light years. Image obtained with
the STC astrograph located at Teide Observatory. (Credit: Daniel López/IAC)
4 We Are Stardust (1962–1968)
seeding the interstellar medium with the processed matter from which our
Solar System was born. We are privileged to share in the knowledge that we
are recycled matter, and that this recycled matter which we are will continue
the Cosmic cycle to make new stars that will shine bright in a future firmament. We transcend death through evolution, which is nothing more than
another manifestation of life, a phase change, to put it eruditely.
The life and death of stars are peppered with violent evolutionary episodes.
Stars emerge in clusters after a dramatic birth and meet a catastrophic end
that seeds new stars. These violent episodes produce such beautiful and surprising objects as planetary nebulae, novae, supernovae, neutron stars, black
holes, and many exotic etceteras more. The stars, then, are factories of all the
elements of the periodic table, the true philosopher’s stone so eagerly sought
after by mediaeval alchemists.
Fig. 4.3 Stars and planets being born in immense clouds of interstellar gas and dust,
recycled by dying stars. The image shows the Lagoon Nebula (M8), The Trifid Nebula
(M20), and NGC 6559, all at a distance of some 5000 light years. Image obtained with
the STC astrograph located at Teide Observatory. (Credit: Daniel López/IAC)
4 We Are Stardust (1962–1968)