Sounds of the Cosmos: Star Death
Travel through space with Holst’s The Planets and discover how stars die, from glowing planetary nebulae to spectacular supernova explosions.
What happens when a star reaches the end of its life?
Explore the final stages of stellar evolution through music, science and images of the cosmos.
Sounds of the Cosmos combines a filmed orchestral performance of Gustav Holst’s The Planets with short talks from University of Sheffield researchers and spectacular views of space.
In this third chapter, Star Death, Professor Paul Crowther explores what happens to stars as they reach the end of their lives. Discover how dying stars can create beautiful planetary nebulae and how some end in enormous supernova explosions.
The talk features images captured by NASA spacecraft alongside artists’ impressions that reveal the scale and power of these events.
Credits
- Researcher: Professor Paul Crowther (Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Sheffield)
- Music Performed By: Sheffield Rep Orchestra
- Visuals By: Human Studio
- Part of Festival of the Mind 2014