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Stellar Evolution
If the star is about the same mass as the Sun, it will turn into a white dwarf star.
If it is somewhat more massive, it may undergo a supernova explosion and leave
behind a neutron star. But
if the collapsing core of the star is very great—at least three times the mass of the Sun—nothing can stop the collapse. The
star implodes to form an infinite gravitational warp in space—a black hole.
The brightest X-ray sources in our galaxy are the remnants of massive stars that
have undergone a catastrophic collapse—neutron stars and black holes. Other
powerful sources of X-rays are giant bubbles of hot gas produced by exploding
stars. White dwarf stars and the hot, rarified outer layers, or coronas, of normal stars are less intense X-ray
sources.
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