Impression of a planet and its moons being destroyed by a red giant. When a Sun-like star runs out of hydrogen in its core, it swells into a monstrous

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Impression of a planet and its moons being destroyed by a red giant. When a Sun-like star runs out of hydrogen in its core, it swells into a monstrous caricature of its former self known as a red giant, which can be hundreds of times its original diameter. The luminosity of such a star is truly phenomenal. Astronomers have spotted an aging star, Kepler 56, which is turning into a red giant. One day it will completely engulf its planets, as shown in this illustration.

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Size: 7036px × 4710px
Photo credit: © MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 56, artwork, astronomy, astrophysics, death, destroyed, destruction, evolution, expansion, fate, giant, illustration, kepler, moons, planet, planetary, planets, red, space, star, stellar, swelling, swollen, system, universe