Explore the fascinating world of stars in this comprehensive 2.5-hour lecture from the "Astronomy: Exploring Space and Time" course. Delve into the life cycle of stars, from their formation to their dramatic end as supernovae, pulsars, or black holes. Learn about the Sun's properties, stellar evolution, and nucleosynthesis in both low and high-mass stars. Discover the connection between stars and life, and examine how astronomers test theories of gravity. Gain insights into the properties of various stellar objects and their role in shaping the universe.