The moment a star is born?

[Manok101]

I was wondering if there has been captured an image of a star turning on for the first time?

[Axe]

Hubble Snaps New Star Birth Photos During 100,000th Orbit | Wired Science | Wired.com

[12inchDoB]

thats some great pics!

Thanks

[ollypenrice]

The period in which stars first go thermonuclear in their cores is also one in which they are still embedded in a pretty opaque natal cocoon so their first light does not easily escape. They 'shine' only in the longer wavelengths which do get through the gas and dust. Stellar winds then gradually blow away the natal cocoon and they become visible.

I think...

Olly

[johnrt]

When does a star "turn on"?

When it begins to glow from the energy released from the gravitational collapse? Or when the pressure and heat builds up enough to fuse the first hydrogen atoms to helium?

[FraserClarke]

and don't be mislead by these TV animations that show a dusty star suddenly 'popping' bright and blowing out all the dust from the surrounding disc. That's complete media codswallop. It's a slow process that takes 100,000s yrs to happen. Very quick in astronomical terms, but in human terms there isn't really a 'moment' when a star is born.

[dc509]

I love the comments at the bottom of the Wired page - completely bonkers! But it is an amazing image

[johnrt]

I love the comments at the bottom of the Wired page - completely bonkers! But it is an amazing image

Uh oh. I think Lala rumbled us....