Planetary Life after Death
Summary
When a massive star dies, it becomes a super nova, in an explosion so bright that it briefly outshines everything else in the galaxy. Most of the heavy elements that make up planets, are forged in the nuclear furnaces of such explosions. These elements are then blown back into the galaxy, where they mingle with interstellar gases – the next generation of baby stars forms from this material, now enriched with building blocks for growing new solar systems and planets.
The star that went super nova still remains in the form of a pulsar – as a core that is tiny and dense. Even these dead pulsars might play host to a whole new generation of planet formation.
Keywords: NASA , astronomy Spitzer space telescope neutron star supernova planet
