Compared with stars, the region between them, called the interstellar medium or “ISM,” is very low density; but it is not a completely empty vacuum. A key theme in this chapter is that stars are themselves formed out of this ISM material through gravitational contraction, making for a star–gas–star cycle. We explore the characteristics of cold and warm regions of the ISM and their roles in star formation.
Review the options below to login to check your access.
Log in with your Cambridge Aspire website account to check access.
If you believe you should have access to this content, please contact your institutional librarian or consult our FAQ page for further information about accessing our content.