Star, any massive self-luminous celestial body of gas that shines by radiation derived from its internal energy sources. This article describes the properties and evolution of individual stars. Included in the discussion are the sizes, energetics, temperatures, masses, and chemical compositions of stars.

A star’s gas provides its fuel, and its mass determines how rapidly it runs through its supply, with lower-mass stars burning longer, dimmer, and cooler than very massive stars. More massive stars must burn fuel at a higher rate to generate the energy that keeps them from collapsing under their own weight.

STAR eligibility Did you receive a letter about STAR? If you received a letter about your STAR benefit, see Respond to a STAR letter for details.

A star’s mass determines how hot it burns, how long it lives, and how it ultimately dies. Let’s follow the life cycle of low-mass, medium-mass, and high-mass stars.

The Sun is a Star We bask in the light of a star — the Sun. It's different from the planets, which are very small in comparison to the Sun, and are usually made of rock (such as Earth and Mars) or cool gases (such as Jupiter and Saturn). By understanding how the Sun works, astronomers can gain a deeper insight into how all stars work.