The future of our Sun

artiteacher The fate of Earth

artiteacher The red giant expansion

We'll swell up giant to swallow the inner worlds, then cool down tiny to a brilliant white dwarf!

artiteacher A swollen red balloon

artiteacher Earth will either be swallowed or scorched into a molten wasteland.

artiteacher The expanding Sun will completely engulf the two innermost planets.

BETA

artiteacher Sun Swell

Fun Fact

Gigantic Sun: As a red giant, the Sun will expand to occupy nearly the entire sky from Earth's perspective.

Glossary

red giant (noun)
A large, luminous star in a late stage of stellar evolution with a depleted hydrogen core. In about five billion years, our Sun will balloon into this state, engulfing Mercury and Venus.

Gossip

Where would you escape to?

Quiz

How much larger in diameter will the Sun get as a red giant compared to today?

artiteacher The new goldilocks zone

Quiz

What will happen to Earth's oceans long before the Sun becomes a red giant?

artiteacher Mercury and Venus vanish

Quiz

What is the expected surface temperature of the Sun when it becomes a red giant?

Quiz

How will the Sun's total brightness change when it becomes a red giant?

Quiz

What color will the Sun turn during its giant expansion phase?

Quiz

Why might Earth's orbit push outward as the Sun expands?

Quiz

Which planet is definitely the first to be swallowed by the expanding Sun?

Quiz

Which icy moon of Saturn might temporarily melt and have oceans during the red giant phase?