Home › About
About this project
The Life of a Star is an educational astronomy resource created by a Year 8 student in Australia. It began as a Science Quest project on magnetars (which received a prize), and expanded into a full website because the topic warranted more depth than a poster could provide.
Why this site exists
Three reasons shaped the project. First, the research deserved a lasting home rather than sitting in a folder. Second, building a website provided a practical way to learn HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Third—and most importantly—the content was worth sharing. Learning that the iron in human blood was forged inside a dying star changes how we see our place in the universe, and this site aims to give other students that same perspective.
How it was built
The site was built by hand with plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript—no large frameworks, so every part of the code could be understood directly. All diagrams are drawn in code (SVG), avoiding reliance on external images. Development drew on free tutorials, school resources, library books and iterative testing. The site continues to improve over time, as recorded on the update history page.
How accuracy is maintained
Content is written for students, not by professional scientists, so facts are checked carefully against NASA and ESA sources, with a second reference sought for anything surprising. Where uncertainty remains, the site says so. Corrections are welcome—accuracy matters more than leaving an error in place.