Protostar
Protostar is an early stage in the formation of a star, occurring after the collapse of a dense region within a molecular cloud. It is characterized by ongoing mass accretion and the absence of sustained hydrogen fusion in the core.
Protostars are discussed in astrophysics, star formation theory, and observational astronomy.
Status
Protostars are identified through infrared and radio observations that penetrate surrounding dust and gas. Models of their accretion processes, internal structure, and early evolution continue to be developed.