What dense object is left behind when a smaller star gently puffs off its outer layers?
Answer
White dwarf
When a smaller star reaches the end of its life cycle and exhausts its fuel, it undergoes a transformation where it sheds its outer layers into space. This process exposes the remaining small, hot core, which is known as a white dwarf. This object represents the final, stable state of low-to-medium mass stars, as they no longer have the nuclear fuel to drive the fusion processes that once sustained them.

#Videos
What Are Stars? - YouTube
All About Stars for Kids: Astronomy and Space for Children - YouTube
Stars in the Solar System | Science for Kids - YouTube
Related Questions
What specific process involves hydrogen atoms smashing together to form helium in a star's core?Which color of star represents the hottest temperature according to the observed light spectrum?Which two opposing forces work against each other to keep a star stable and spherical?What is the giant cloud of dust and gas where the life cycle of a star begins?What causes stars to appear to flicker or twinkle when viewed from the surface of Earth?What unit of measurement represents the distance light travels in one single year?How does the size of a star impact its overall lifespan and fuel consumption?What type of star is the Sun classified as in terms of size and color?What dense object is left behind when a smaller star gently puffs off its outer layers?What are the two primary gases that make up the composition of stars?