Surely, it is the gravitational attraction of the star and also the repulsion from temperature in equilibrium, so that the opposition of forces and the state of equilibrium define a sphere.

Also stars have a self rotation, in the case of the sun, roughly 25 days. That rotation makes the star slightly oblate, as per Newton's laws. moreover, the star has a corona which is not regular and completely homogenous in temperature.

To say that gravitational attraction keeps the thing a spherical shape is to imply that matter can be non-arbitrarliy concentrated into a given volume. It is certainly not right.

Bart Alder - Seyfert

• Oblate is still round - yanniru - September 10, 2003 - 12:27 UTC
• 'FARENHEIT 9/11'/ TEMPERATURE/FUSION & ANTI-AMERICAN CENSORSHIP - savolain - July 22, 2004 - 19:10 UTC