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“Metal” abundance during time
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“Metals” are elements heavier than He
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A given star’s atmospheric abundance is approx. fixed
at birth
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Interstellar metal abundance grows with each new
generation of stars
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Red giants and supernova eject new heavy elements into
interstellar gas
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Orbits during time
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A given star’s orbit is approx. fixed at birth – just
plows through gas
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Orbits of gas clouds evolve with time since they can collide
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Orbits get more circular and disk-like with time
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