Solar mass

From Free net encyclopedia

In astronomy, the solar mass is a unit of mass used to express the mass of stars and larger objects such as galaxies. It is equal to the mass of the Sun, about two nonillion kilograms. Its value and conventional symbol are:

<math>M_\bigodot=1.9891\times10^{30}\hbox{ kg}</math>

The solar mass is 333,000 times the mass of the Earth.

Over 99% of the mass of our own solar system is contained within the Sun.

Uncertainty in the gravitational constant makes the calculation of the solar mass equally imprecise.

It is a term most commonly used when talking about the supernova and explosion of a red supergiant. Red supergiants form a iron core over millions of years. Then it explodes, sometimes the core will survive. If the iron core is between 1.5 - 3 solar masses it contracts to become a tiny, very dense Neutron Star. If the core is much greater than 3 solar masses, the core contracts to become a Black Hole. To give an idea of the weight of a neutron star. If you take a teaspoon of the neutron star it would weigh about 1,000 tonnes, it's pretty much unbelievable.

See also

• Gaussian gravitational constant
• Orders of magnitude (mass)

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