What is the key difference in the stellar end stage between a star like the Sun and a massive star (starting $>8 M_{\odot}$)?
Answer
The Sun forms a cooling white dwarf after shedding layers, while the massive star faces catastrophe
Stars in the Sun's mass range fuse up to carbon/oxygen, form an inert core, and end by gently shedding layers to become a white dwarf, whereas stars significantly more massive reach iron and face catastrophic collapse.
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