jättiläistähden

Jättiläistähden is a Finnish term that translates to "giant star" in English. This astronomical classification refers to stars that have significantly expanded from their main-sequence stage. These stars are typically much larger, cooler, and more luminous than stars like our Sun. Their immense size is a consequence of the exhaustion of hydrogen fuel in their core, leading to expansion and cooling of their outer layers.

There are several types of giant stars, including red giants and blue giants, distinguished by their surface temperature and color. Red giants are the most common type, characterized by their reddish hue and enormous diameters. Blue giants are rarer and hotter, though still larger than main-sequence stars. As stars evolve, they will eventually pass through a giant phase before continuing their stellar evolution, potentially becoming white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes depending on their initial mass. Studying jättiläistähdet provides crucial insights into stellar evolution and the life cycles of stars in the universe.