Stellar Atlas

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A personal astrophysics project by Aniket S. Mishra (BS-MS, IISER Kolkata) that simulates and visualizes how stars evolve across time and mass using MESA.

MESA Simulations

Each star's life cycle simulated using Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics with stopping conditions at hydrogen and helium exhaustion.

Interactive Atlas

Visualize stellar tracks, temperatures, luminosity, and HR diagrams with download support and smooth navigation.

Gaia DR3 Validation

Compare MESA outputs with real star data from the Gaia catalog, confirming theoretical predictions with observations.

Comprehensive Dataset

2350 simulations (1175 per stopping condition) across mass range (0–100 M☉, step 0.5, plus 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 200, 350, 600, 800, 900 M☉; for Z=0.04, up to 60 M☉) and metallicities (Z = 0.0001, 0.001, 0.006, 0.014, 0.02, 0.04) available on Zenodo.

🔬 Methodology

Simulation Parameters

  • Mass Range: 0–100 M☉ (step 0.5), plus 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 200, 350, 600, 800, 900 M☉ (for Z=0.04, up to 60 M☉)
  • Total Mass Points: 210 (210 for most metallicities, fewer for Z=0.04)
  • Metallicities: Z = 0.0001, 0.001, 0.006, 0.014, 0.02, 0.04
  • Stopping Conditions: Hydrogen & Helium exhaustion (10⁻⁵) - 2 conditions per simulation
  • Total Simulations: 2350 (1175 × 2 stopping conditions)
  • Evolution Tracking: Core temperature, density, luminosity, radius

Scientific Validation

  • Gaia DR3 Comparison: Real observational data overlay
  • HR Diagram Analysis: Main sequence and post-MS evolution
  • Core Evolution: Temperature-density relationships
  • Metallicity Effects: Opacity and structure impacts
"To understand stars is to glimpse the engines of the universe."

The full dataset is available on Zenodo:

📂 View Dataset on Zenodo

Curious how stars live and die?

Dive into the Atlas and uncover the secrets of stellar life cycles.

Launch Atlas