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Last Post 3/25/2020 8:38 AM by  Sabrina Savage
supernova / will sun explode/implode?
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3/25/2020 6:58 AM
    (from Answer Garden)



    Can the sun explode?

    Can it implode?

    Will the sun ever go supernova? If so, how soon?
    Tags: supernova, explode, sun, implode

    Sabrina Savage



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    Posts:22
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    3/25/2020 8:38 AM
    The sun is actually too small to explode (or implode to a neutron star or black hole), so it will never go supernova. It will instead become a red giant star once it has depleted the hydrogen fuel in its core and begins fusing helium. At that point (less than about 5 billion years from now), its outer layers will puff out as the radiation pressure begins to overcome gravity and engulf the Earth. Eventually, those outer layers will be expelled resulting in a planetary nebula leaving behind the hot core as a white dwarf star in the center. A beautiful way to go out!

    Here is one example summary of this process, but of course our understanding of the sun's lifecycle is continually being refined as we learn more about it: https://phys.org/news/201...e-sun-red-giant.html
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