A protostar is a very young star that is still gathering mass from its parent molecular cloud. It is the earliest phase in the process of stellar evolution. [1]

Oct 30, 2025 · What is a Protostar? A protostar is a stage in the formation of a star where a dense cloud of gas and dust begins to collapse under its own gravity. This collapse triggers the …

May 21, 2024 · What is a Protostar? A protostar is a young star which is in the early stages of formation, before it reaches the main sequence stage. This stage of star formation can last …

Aug 30, 2004 · The image below shows a very young protostar, still deeply embedded in its dust cloud. The star itself is the bright red spot near the base of the dark region. The bright spots …

A protostar looks like a star but its core is not yet hot enough for fusion to take place. The luminosity comes exclusively from the heating of the protostar as it contracts.

Jan 8, 2025 · Dr. Michelle Thaller presents Webb’s stunning view of a young protostar, just 100,000 years old and cocooned in gas and dust. Webb reveals the protostar’s hourglass …

Description: A protostar is an early stage in the star formation process. It is a large mass of gas and dust formed as a result of the contraction of a giant molecular cloud in the interstellar …

Nov 16, 2025 · A Protostar is the first stage of a star’s life after an event of some form has caused a nebula of dust and cloud to collapse. It has not yet built enough mass to fuse hydrogen to …

During this time, and up until hydrogen burning begins and it joins the main sequence, the object is known as a protostar. This stage of stellar evolution may last for between 100,000 and 10 …

Protostars represent a critical phase in the life cycle of stars, embodying the intricate processes that lead to stellar birth. These celestial entities emerge within dense regions of Nebulae, …