After reading, studying, and discussing Chapter 23, you should be able to:

• Discuss the principle of parallax and explain how it is used to measure the distance to a star.

• List and describe the major intrinsic properties of stars.

• Describe the different types of nebulae.

• Describe the most plausible model for stellar evolution and list the stages in the life cycle of a star.

• Describe the possible final states that a star may assume after it consumes its nuclear fuel and collapses.

• List and describe the major types of galaxies.

• Describe the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe.

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