Open AccessSolar evolution and the distant future of Earth
Author(s) -
Schröder Peter,
Smith Robert,
Apps Kevin
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
astronomy & geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.168
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1468-4004
pISSN - 1366-8781
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-4004.2001.42626.x
Subject(s) - planet , astrobiology , earth (classical element) , astronomy , solar system , planetary habitability , physics , geology , terrestrial planet
Peter Schröder, Robert Smith and Kevin Apps take a speculative look at what the future may hold as the Sun becomes a supergiant. Astronomy textbooks tell us that one day the Sun will expand to become a red supergiant of enormous size, finally swallowing its inner planets, including Earth. However, recent solar evolution models, which account for a realistic amount of mass loss, suggest a (slightly) less catastrophic future for our planet.