The universe is a dynamic place in which stars and planets are continually changing, dying, and being formed from the debris of earlier generations. A Star’s life cycle, including birth and death, depends on its mass. High mass stars die quickly (in millions of years) while low mass stars live a very long time (billions of years). When stars die, they recycle elements that can become other stars, sometimes planets and maybe life.

Of the 100 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, there are many different kinds. Our Sun, the only life-supporting star we know, is an ordinary, middle-aged star. It is located within one of the Milky Way’s spiral arms. Stars like our Sun are apt to be good places to look for earth-like planets and life.