• Question: when will the sun die out and make a red giant?

    Asked by steph710 to Davie, Gemma, James P, James V, Nuala on 29 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by riob88.
    • Photo: James Pope

      James Pope answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Hi steph710,

      The sun will die in about 5 billion years time, when it will also either engulf the Earth or scorch it’s surface, so it will also be when the world will die. But considering the Earth is only 4.5 billion years old, there is quite a while to go yet!

    • Photo: James Verdon

      James Verdon answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      Hi steph,

      The sun will run out of hydrogen fuel in about 5 billion years time, when it will swell up to become a red giant. However, I wouldn’t worry too much, because humans will almost certainly have gone extinct well before then!

Comments