What is protostar?

A protostar is like a baby star that’s still growing and getting ready to become a full-grown star.

Imagine you're playing with clay in the kitchen. You start with a small lump, and then you squish it, roll it, and shape it until it becomes a big, round ball. That’s kind of what happens with a protostar, it starts as a small, clumpy cloud of gas and dust, and over time, it gets squeezed together by gravity, getting hotter and brighter.

When the protostar is growing, it's like a kid who's eating a big meal. The more gas and dust it eats, the bigger and warmer it gets. Sometimes, you can see this baby star glowing faintly in space, kind of like a tiny lightbulb that’s still turning on.

Once the protostar has grown enough, it becomes a real star, like our Sun. It keeps shining for billions of years, giving off heat and light, just like your favorite nightlight in your room!