Stars are massive self-luminous celestial objects composed of gaseous matter held together by gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Stellar evolution is the process by which a star is born, lives, and dies, beginning with the gravitational contraction of hydrogen gas into a protostar. As the protostar's density and temperature increase at its core, nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium begins, releasing energy and establishing a steady state balance between gravitational contraction and radiation pressure.