What distinct object is formed when the contracting, heating clump is no longer considered part of the diffuse nebula?
Answer
A protostar
When the material in the densest part of the collapsing nebula has localized itself sufficiently and is actively undergoing the fundamental physical changes associated with compression and heating, it has transitioned into a new developmental phase. This localized, rapidly falling, and heating object is specifically termed a protostar. The formation of the protostar signifies the definitive end of the diffuse nebula stage for that particular mass of material, as it is now an internally governed object undergoing gravitational collapse rather than just being an undifferentiated part of the larger cloud structure.
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