star formation

[ stahr fawr-mey-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Astronomy.

a process that takes place within a molecular cloud, in which a dense region of gas and dust collapses and produces stars.
the branch of astronomy that deals with all aspects and stages of the formation of stars.

First recorded in 1850–55

But early galaxies—at least very high-mass ones—should drop off in star formation at some point.

For that reason, black holes can influence star formation, both positively and negatively.

Once star formation stops in a galaxy, the only way for it to get bigger is by merging with or eating smaller galaxies.

Also the northern spiral nebul were photographed, exhibiting an extraordinary wealth of detail in apparent star formation.

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