Q
What is a red giant?
A
Expert Answer
When Sun-like stars exhaust core hydrogen, they expand dramatically (up to 100x radius) and cool (turning red). The Sun will become a red giant in ~5 billion years, engulfing Mercury and Venus and scorching Earth. After the red giant phase, it sheds its outer layers, becoming a white dwarf.
Key Insight
When Sun-like stars exhaust core hydrogen, they expand dramatically (up to 100x radius) and cool (turning red).
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