Stellar Chemistry

Stellar chemistry research focuses on the chemical composition, abundances, and processes occurring within stars. Composition of a star entails what elements a star harbors and the abundance entails how much of those elements are there in the star. By studying the spectra of stars, the elements present in their atmospheres can be identified and their abundances can be determined. The abundances of different elements in stars of varying ages and metallicities gives information about the chemical evolution of that star. Stellar chemistry research helps explain the processes of how elements are synthesized in stars and released into the interstellar medium, influencing the composition of subsequent generations of stars and planetary systems.