### The Life Cycle of a Main Sequence Star 🌟A star’s life is a cosmic story of birth, balance, and transformation. A main sequence star spends most of its life producing energy by fusing hydrogen into helium in its core. Our Sun is currently in this stage.Explore the stages below one by one.STAGE 1 OF 6Star formation### 1\. Stellar nebulaBirth beginsA star begins in a vast cloud of gas and dust, called a nebula, made mostly of hydrogen and helium. Gravity pulls some of this material together, forming a denser region.RememberGravity is the star’s birth architect.PreviousNext stage### Two possible endingsSun-like starsRed giant → planetary nebula → white dwarf.Massive starsSupergiant → supernova → neutron star or black hole.### Test your understandingQuestion 1: What is the main source of energy for a star during its main sequence stage?Burning coal and other fuelsHydrogen fusion into helium in its coreReflecting light from other starsGravity alone, without fusionCheck answerMore quiz questionsThe key idea: A star’s mass determines how quickly it evolves and how it ends. Massive stars burn through their fuel faster and have more dramatic endings, while stars like our Sun evolve more gently.