The future of our Sun
Chapter 1
The hydrogen countdown
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Chapter 2
The red giant expansion
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Chapter 3
The planetary nebula phase
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Chapter 4
The white dwarf retirement
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The future of our Sun
Ch 3 · The planetary nebula phase
teacher I'll shed my glowing layers in a cosmic sigh, and leave a shining white dwarf in the sky.
Fun Fact
Cosmic recycling: Most of the carbon in your body was once ejected by ancient planetary nebulae.
Glossary
planetary nebula (noun)
An expanding shell of gas ejected from a star during the latter stages of its evolution. The Sun will eject its outer layers to form this expanding shell in about five billion years.
An expanding shell of gas ejected from a star during the latter stages of its evolution. The Sun will eject its outer layers to form this expanding shell in about five billion years.