What are the denser regions within a Giant Molecular Cloud called that act as direct precursors to individual stars?

Answer

Cores

Star formation does not typically begin uniformly across an entire Giant Molecular Cloud (GMC); rather, it initiates in localized areas where gravitational forces have managed to create sufficient density enhancements. These localized, self-gravitating regions are specifically termed 'cores.' These cores represent the stage where density is high enough—often orders of magnitude greater than the surrounding cloud—that the Jeans Mass criterion for gravitational collapse is met or exceeded. Finding these internal clumps within the larger GMC complex provides the observational proof that gravitational fragmentation is successfully taking place, marking these cores as the immediate, direct precursors that will eventually evolve into a single star or a small star system.

What are the denser regions within a Giant Molecular Cloud called that act as direct precursors to individual stars?

Related Questions

What molecule acts as a tracer for invisible molecular hydrogen in cold Giant Molecular Clouds?What spectral line feature indicates that a molecular core is actively collapsing onto itself?What is the definitive evidence confirming the presence of a luminous, deeply embedded protostar?What are the denser regions within a Giant Molecular Cloud called that act as direct precursors to individual stars?What flattened structure forms around a central protostar due to the conservation of angular momentum?What observational phenomena are launched perpendicular to the accretion disk to manage excess angular momentum?What temperature range characterizes the environment within cold cores of Giant Molecular Clouds?What evidence suggests the formation of exceptionally massive stars in the early universe?How is the rotation of a collapsing core observationally confirmed?What critical mass must a clump exceed for gravity to successfully overcome internal pressure during collapse?
astronomystellar evolutionstar formationnebulaeevidence