What are the primary elements composing the vast gas and dust clouds where stars begin?
Answer
Hydrogen and helium
These clouds are composed primarily of the universe's most abundant elements, namely hydrogen and helium, mixed with small amounts of heavier elements and microscopic dust grains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the colossal structures known as the cosmic nurseries where stellar birth is initiated?What are the primary elements composing the vast gas and dust clouds where stars begin?Why is the extremely low temperature within molecular clouds essential for star formation?Which phenomenon is explicitly mentioned as a potential trigger for the gravitational collapse initiating star formation?Due to the conservation of angular momentum during contraction, what shape does the material surrounding the growing core typically form?During the protostar phase, where does the generated heat originate, before nuclear reactions begin?How long might a star significantly less massive than the Sun spend contracting before fusion begins?For a star like our Sun, what approximate core temperature must be reached to ignite sustained hydrogen fusion?What is the term for the state where the outward pressure from released fusion energy perfectly counteracts the inward crush of gravity?What objects form if a collapsing core gathers less than about 8% of the Sun’s mass?