An example of celestial violence and change is the birth of stars. Stars are born in interstellar clouds, which are enormous complexes of gas and dust that exist in galaxies like the Milky Way. Supernovae explode within these clouds. Matter gets compressed and collapses into stars. Supersonic jets from the young stars tear into the gas and dust, and intense radiation from the brightest of the stars heats the material to incandescence. In a few million years, which is a relatively brief span of time by astronomical standards, the most massive of the stars explode as supernovae and trigger the formation of yet another generation of stars. The cycle of death and birth continues.

	Interstellar Clouds -- Birthplaces of Stars
	The Birth of a Star
	Young Star Clusters
	Triggering the Birth of a New Generation of Stars

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