as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
system
describe the star formation process.
user
the star formation process begins with a huge cloud of gas and dust, known as a molecular cloud. as it contracts due to gravity, it begins to form stars. a protostar then forms, which is a collapsed object that continues to contract until the core becomes dense and hot enough for nuclear fusion to begin. once the protostar reaches the main sequence, it stabilizes and is considered a full-fledged star.
assistant