Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 August 2015
The theoretical study of the evolution of massive stars has considerable relevance to many branches of observational astronomy. As an example, one may mention, first, the direct application of theoretical models in interpreting the observed properties of supergiants, and second, the use of calculations of the nucleosynthesis taking place in these stars, together with observed supergiant mass loss rates and supernova calculations, to estimate the rate and type of nucleosynthetic enrichment of the interstellar medium by supergiants.