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protostellar core
The smallest opaque clump into which a collapsing interstellar cloud fragments. The characteristic mass of a protostellar core is about 0.01 solar mass. It subsequently grows by accretion as surrounding matter falls toward it, attaining stellar mass, and becoming a protostar, within 100,000 years after its initial formation.
Related entry
• variable stars
Related category
• TYPES OF STAR
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