How long before Earth is engulfed by the sun?

How long before Earth is engulfed by the sun?

Will the red giant Sun engulf Earth

1. **Introduction:**

   Earth's fate is intricately tied to the life cycle of our Sun. Currently a stable main-sequence star, the Sun is destined to undergo significant changes over its lifespan.

Will the red giant Sun engulf Earth

2. **Stellar Evolution:**

   In approximately 5 billion years, the Sun will exhaust its hydrogen fuel in the core. As a result, it will enter the next phase of its life cycle, transitioning into a red giant.

3. **Red Giant Phase:**

   During this red giant phase, the Sun will expand dramatically, swelling in size and becoming hundreds of times larger than its present state. This expansion is driven by the increased fusion of helium in its core.

Will the red giant Sun engulf Earth

4. **Planetary Engulfment:**

   The expanding Sun will have profound consequences for the inner planets, including Earth. As the Sun grows, it will gradually engulf Mercury, Venus, and eventually, Earth.

5. **Impact on Earth:**

   Earth's fate is sealed as it succumbs to the Sun's outer layers. The process will not be instantaneous; instead, it will occur over millions of years as the Sun's outer layers expand and envelope our planet.

6. **Transformation of Earth:**

   The intense heat and radiation from the expanding Sun will strip away Earth's atmosphere and melt its surface. The planet will be transformed into a molten mass, eventually merging with the outer layers of the Sun.

7. **Formation of a Planetary Nebula:**

   The Sun's outer layers, enriched with elements from engulfed planets, will be expelled into space, creating a glowing shell of ionized gas known as a planetary nebula.

8. **White Dwarf Remnant:**

   What remains of the Sun's core after the expulsion of its outer layers will become a white dwarf—a dense, Earth-sized remnant composed mainly of carbon and oxygen.

9. **End of Earth's Existence:**

   Earth, once a thriving planet teeming with life, will have ceased to exist in its familiar form, having become an integral part of the Sun's transformation.

10. **Conclusion:**

    The engulfment of Earth by the Sun is a cosmic inevitability, highlighting the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our universe. This process is a distant event on the cosmic timescale, emphasizing the importance of understanding the long-term evolution of celestial bodies.