Book contents
- Fundamentals of Astrophysics
- Reviews
- Fundamentals of Astrophysics
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Second Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- Part I Stellar Properties
- Part II Stellar Structure and Evolution
- Part III Interstellar Medium and Formation of Stars and Planets
- 21 The Interstellar Medium
- 22 Star Formation
- 23 Origin of Planetary Systems
- 24 Water Planet Earth
- 25 Extra-Solar Planets
- Part IV Our Milky Way and Other Galaxies
- Part V Cosmology
- Book part
- Index
21 - The Interstellar Medium
from Part III - Interstellar Medium and Formation of Stars and Planets
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 November 2025
Book contents
- Fundamentals of Astrophysics
- Reviews
- Fundamentals of Astrophysics
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Second Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- Part I Stellar Properties
- Part II Stellar Structure and Evolution
- Part III Interstellar Medium and Formation of Stars and Planets
- 21 The Interstellar Medium
- 22 Star Formation
- 23 Origin of Planetary Systems
- 24 Water Planet Earth
- 25 Extra-Solar Planets
- Part IV Our Milky Way and Other Galaxies
- Part V Cosmology
- Book part
- Index
Summary
Compared to stars, the region between them, called the interstellar medium or "ISM," is very low density; but it is not a completely empty vacuum. A key theme in this chapter is that stars are themselves formed out of this ISM material through gravitational contraction, making for a star-gas-star cycle. We explore the characteristics of cold and warm regions of the ISM and their roles in star formation.
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- Chapter
- Information
- Fundamentals of Astrophysics , pp. 155 - 165Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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