An Overview of Dark Stars

“Dark stars” are a theoretical class of celestial objects powered by dark matter annihilation rather than nuclear fusion. I will review the conditions in the early universe conducive to the formation of dark stars, covering the theoretical basis of dark matter annihilation as an energy source. I will discuss the expected properties of dark stars, including their size, luminosity, lifespan, and spectral signatures. I will also address the observational challenges and opportunities for detecting dark stars, including possible candidates identified by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).