gravitational collapse

Gravitational collapse occurs when an astronomical object, like a star, experiences its own gravity pulling its material inward. When the inward force outweighs other pressures pushing outward, the object shrinks and becomes denser. This process can lead to the formation of dense objects such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes, depending on the original mass. Essentially, gravity causes the object's material to compact tightly, often resulting in extraordinary phenomena and extreme environments in space.