# Second generation stars

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-generation-stars/491484>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 31, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-generation-stars/491484 "2009-03-31T19:52:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-generation-stars/491484/1 "2009-03-31T19:52:42Z")

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Where does the nebula that second or higher generation stars form in come from? Would the nebula cast off from a dying star contain enough hydrogen to make a second generation star, or would the nebula have to combine with others to achieve a sufficient mass of hydrogen?

Thanks,  
Rob

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-generation-stars/491484/2 "2009-03-31T20:13:57Z")

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A star forming nebula is large enough to form thousands of stars, so no, the remnant from a single dead star (even a very large one) wouldn’t be nearly enough.