Stars are grouped into three different populations based on their metallicity.
Population III stars (first protostar) are made up entirely of hydrogen and helium (with a very small amount of lithium). These stars created the first 26 elements up to iron via Nucleosynthesis. They are hypothetical, and were supposed to exist only in the early Universe, when there were only light elements. None exist today.
Population II stars (Early protostar) are made up of the remnants of a population III star and will contain relatively small amounts of metals. These stars, via a supernova created the rest of the elements, including gold.
Population I star (Current, including our Sun) are made up of all of the above and will have the highest metal content.
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Population stars are a classification system used in astronomy to categorize the different types of stars based on their age, composition, and location within a galaxy. This system helps astronomers understand the evolution and behavior of stars in relation to the overall population of stars in the universe.
Population II stars are the oldest in the Milky Way. These stars formed from the remnants of earlier generations of stars, and they have lower metallicity compared to younger Population I stars.
Population II stars are lower in "metals" than population I stars. By metals, astronomers mean anything other than hydrogen and helium.
Population I stars have more metals (heavier elements), and are generally younger, than the Population II stars. It is postulated that there are still older Population III stars, that have even less metals and are even older, but none have been discovered yet.
Spiral galaxies contain a variety of stars, ranging from young, hot, and blue stars to older, cooler, red stars. These stars are grouped in spiral arms that extend from the central bulge of the galaxy. The different populations of stars in a spiral galaxy contribute to its overall appearance and dynamics.
Population I stars (metal-rich stars) are common in the Milky Way's spiral arms; Population II stars are more common in the galactic halo.For more details, you may want to read the Wikipedia article on "Metallicity". Note that in astronomy, "metal" is an informal name for elements other than hydrogen and helium. This usage is quite different from the usage in chemistry.
Population II stars are the oldest in the Milky Way. These stars formed from the remnants of earlier generations of stars, and they have lower metallicity compared to younger Population I stars.
Population 1 stars are typically young and metal-poor, found in the halo of a galaxy and formed from pristine gas. Population 2 stars are older and metal-rich, located in the disk of a galaxy and formed from gas enriched by supernova explosions of earlier stars.
Population I stars are young and luminous like the Sun. Population II stars consist of globular clusters that are generally much older.
Population II stars are lower in "metals" than population I stars. By metals, astronomers mean anything other than hydrogen and helium.
Population I stars
Population I stars have more metals (heavier elements), and are generally younger, than the Population II stars. It is postulated that there are still older Population III stars, that have even less metals and are even older, but none have been discovered yet.
Population 1 stars are metal rich stars. See related question.
Population I stars
The oldest stars are classified as population III stars [See related question]
The oldest stars are classified as population III stars [See related question]
The so-called "Population I" stars are found in the galactic suburbs, which is where we live. Population II stars are concentrated toward the galactic bulge.
The hottest stars. Generally, globular clusters contain mainly old stars, population II stars