The Cohesive Object Sequence: The Mass-Density Distribution of Astronomical Objects from Asteroids to Stars

TL;DR

This paper introduces the cohesive object sequence, a mass-density plot that reveals fundamental relationships among astronomical objects from asteroids to stars, highlighting key astrophysical processes.

Contribution

It presents a novel mass-density distribution plot that unifies diverse astronomical objects and illustrates their evolutionary and physical distinctions.

Findings

Most astronomical objects align along a cohesive sequence in mass-density space.

Features in the sequence reflect processes like gravitational contraction and nuclear ignition.

Compact stellar remnants deviate significantly from the sequence.

Abstract

Plotting the mass-density of a wide range of astronomical objects as a function of their mass reveals that the vast majority of these objects fall along a ``cohesive object sequence'' that extends all the way from asteroids to the largest stars. Trends and features within this sequence reflect fundamental astronomical processes and phenomena, including the gravitational contraction of progressively higher-mass planets and the onset of nuclear reactions within stars. Meanwhile, compact stellar remnants fall well off this sequence, reflecting their extreme natures. This type of plot is therefore useful both for showcasing the relationships and connections between a wide range of astronomical objects and for clarifying the distinctions used to identify particular types of objects.