Episode guide
Nebula Nurseries: How Stars Are Born
Stars are born in vast, cold clouds that take millions of years to fall inward into light. This episode floats through the quietest nursery there is.
The science, gently
- A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust light-years across: the raw material of stars.
- Gravity gathers the cloud slowly until the center grows hot enough to shine.
- Our own sun was born in such a nursery, likely with thousands of brothers and sisters.
Wonder together
- What do you think a baby star's first light looked like from outside the cloud?
- Where are the sun's brothers and sisters now?
- What are you slowly becoming?
Tonight's calm-down
Nothing in a nebula hurries; even falling takes a million years. Fall asleep the nebula way: a little more gathered, a little warmer, a little brighter in the middle, every minute.