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We are made of star stuff Carl Sagan famously said, “We are made of star stuff,” and how right he was. While hydrogen and helium formed shortly after the big bang, the heavier elements—the stuff that makes up the Earth and its inhabitants—come from stars. All 92 elements on earth, including those that make up our bodies, originate from the death of stars. Small stars like our Sun are able to make the smaller atoms by fusion reactions. Larger stars with heavier cores can make heavier elements up to iron. The rest of the elements are made by exploding supernovae or the death of largest stars. Our solar system Do you know the name of our galaxy? There are billions of solar systems in our galaxy and billions of galaxies in the known universe! A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases. In these regions the formations of gas, dust, and other materials "clump" together to form larger masses, which attract further matter, and eventually will become massive enough to form stars. The remaining materials are then believed to form planets, and other planetary system objects. A supernova is a stellar explosion that is extremely luminous and causes a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months. During this short interval a supernova can radiate as much energy as the Sun is expected to emit over its entire life span. The explosion expels much or all of a star's material at a velocity of up to 30,000 km/, driving a shock wave into the surrounding interstellar medium. This shock wave sweeps up an expanding shell of gas and dust called a supernova remnant. NUCLEAR FUSION IN STARS: NUCLEOSYNTHESIS WHY ARE STARS HOT AND BRIGHT? Nuclear Fusion and Nucleosynthesis Stars are giant nuclear reactors. In the center of stars, atoms are taken apart by tremendous atomic collisions that alter the atomic structure and release an enormous amount of energy. This makes stars hot and bright. Nuclear fusion is an atomic reaction that fuels stars. In fusion, many nuclei (the centers of atoms) combine together to make a larger one (which is a different element). The result of this process is the release of a lot of energy. Stars are powered by nuclear fusion in their cores, mostly converting hydrogen into helium. The production of new elements via nuclear reactions is called nucleosynthesis. A star's mass determines what other type of nucleosynthesis occurs in its core (or during explosive changes in its life cycle). Each of us is made from atoms that were produced in stars and went through a supernova. Small stars: The smallest stars only convert hydrogen into helium. Medium-sized stars (like our Sun): Late in their lives, when the hydrogen becomes depleted, stars like our Sun can convert helium into oxygen and carbon. Massive stars (greater than five times the mass of the Sun): When their hydrogen becomes depleted, high mass stars convert helium atoms into carbon and oxygen, followed by the fusion of carbon and oxygen into neon, sodium, magnesium, sulfur and silicon. Later reactions transform these elements into calcium, iron, nickel, chromium, copper and others. When these old, large stars with depleted cores supernova, they create heavy elements (all the natural elements heavier than iron) and spew them into space, forming the basis for life. Nuclear fusion Visit to the Planetarium Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium 4801 Pierre-De Coubertin Montréal, Quebec H1V 3V4 What you will experience Exhibition EXO: OUR SEARCH FOR LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE How did life appear on Earth? Is there life elsewhere? Our insatiable curiosity for life in all its forms is the starting point of this fascinating exhibition. A playful and interactive quest through animation, projections and multimedia games! One section of the exhibition also displays a rich collection of meteorites, some of which hail from the Moon and Mars! Show CONTINUUM This immersion show, specially designed by the internationally acclaimed Montréal artistic duo of Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, take visitors on a moving journey through the splendours and power of space, set to excerpts from the entrancing symphonic music of Philip Glass. From the infinitely small to the infinitely large, a cosmic poem on the link between humankind and the Universe. Show FROM THE EARTH TO THE STARS Under the clearest starry sky in Montréal, like cosmic explorers, visitors will embark on a thrilling virtual journey taking them thousands of light years from Earth, all the way to the stars and beyond! This fascinating immersion in the immensity of the Universe will be presented live by a skilled astronomy interpreter and will change with the seasons and with new scientific discoveries. A unique experience every time!