The lifecycle of a star is an incredible process that spans billions of years. It begins with the birth of a star from a cloud of dust and gas, known as a nebula. This nebula will eventually collapse under its own gravity, causing the formation of a protostar. As the protostar continues to grow, nuclear fusion reactions occur within its core, leading to the release of energy in the form of light and heat. This marks the star's main sequence phase, where it will remain stable for millions to billions of years. Once the star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it will begin to undergo changes that will ultimately lead to its death. Depending on the size of the star, it may either expand into a red giant or a supergiant, before eventually shedding its outer layers and forming a planetary nebula. For smaller stars, like our sun, the remnants will cool and condense into a white dwarf. Whereas for more massive stars, they may undergo a supernova explosion, leaving behind a neutron star or even collapsing into a black hole. Understanding the lifecycle of a star not only sheds light on the mechanisms that shape our universe, but also highlights the beauty and complexity of the cosmos.