What is the final stage of a star's life cycle?

The final stage of a star’s life depends mainly on its mass, so there isn’t just one single ending for all stars.

For average-sized stars like the Sun:

• They expand into a red giant
• Shed outer layers to form a planetary nebula
• The remaining core becomes a white dwarf, which slowly cools over time

For massive stars:

• They evolve into red supergiants
• End in a powerful supernova explosion
• The leftover core becomes either:
• a neutron star, or
• a black hole (if the mass is extremely high)

So, the “final stage” can be:

• White dwarf for smaller stars
• Neutron star or black hole for massive stars

Key understanding: A star’s fate is determined by how much fuel it has and how quickly it uses it. Higher mass leads to shorter life and a more violent end.