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Last Post 10/18/2016 11:04 AM by  Christina Cohen
Sun
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10/18/2016 5:42 AM
    How much longer will the sun be active?

    Dawn Myers



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    Posts:151
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    10/18/2016 7:23 AM
    The sun goes through an 11 year solar cycle that goes from solar minimum (very few sunspots) to solar maximum which is a lot of sunspots and activity. We are currently in solar minimum so there aren't too many sunspots around.

    Christina Cohen



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    10/18/2016 11:04 AM
    Although sometimes there are big solar events even at the beginnings and ends of solar minimum - so some of us (who study that) are hopeful!

    In terms of the life cycle of the Sun, it will be 'active' for another ~5.5 billion years. After that it will become a red giant and then cool down to become a white dwarf. Unfortunately in the process of becoming a red giant the Sun will expand to beyond Earth's orbit - but plenty of time to worry about that!
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