Stars
A star is a sphere of gas that initially consists mainly of hydrogen and helium. Its colossal dimensions turn the sphere of gas into an enormous power station and a birthplace for the majority of chemical elements in the universe. Our Sun is also a star.
Star dust: Origin of all elements
Due to its mass, extreme conditions prevail in a star. It is very hot and the pressure is so high that nuclear reactions are set in motion. The star forms new chemical elements in its interior through nuclear fusion. A helium nucleus is formed from four hydrogen nuclei. However, the helium nucleus is somewhat lighter than the original four hydrogen nuclei together, because part of the mass is released as energy during fusion. It is transported outwards through the layers of the star where it then radiates. For example, the life-giving rays of our Sun are produced in precisely this manner.
The resulting helium can be further fused so that heavier and heavier elements are gradually formed in the star. These include carbon, oxygen, magnesium, silicon and iron.
When some stars explode as supernovae at the end of their lives, the material is hurled out into space in this violent act and contributes to the formation of new stars, planets and living beings. All elements heavier than helium were therefore once formed in a star, and we and everything around us are actually made of star dust.
Evening star and morning star - Venus
The evening star and the morning star are the same celestial body, and this body is not a star, but the planet Venus. Venus is the second planet orbiting the Sun after Mercury. The Earth is the third. Venus appears luminous to us because it is illuminated by the Sun. It regularly overtakes us, as it moves faster than the Earth. As a result, we see it alternately shining like a star in the morning and, sometimes, in the evening. It is often only partially illuminated by the Sun and then appears crescent-shaped like our Moon.