Life cycle of the sun

What is the sun made of?

Roughly 4.5 billion years ago our sun, (Like all other stars) was born in a nebula*. Since then it has been converting Hydrogen atoms to Helium atoms using nuclear fusion*. It will continue to do this until its death (roughly 7 billion years).

Roughly 4.5 billion years ago our sun, (like all other stars) was born in a nebula*. Since then, it has been converting Hydrogen atoms to Helium atoms using nuclear fusion*. It will continue to do this until its death (roughly 7 billion years).

Before its death however, a couple of changes will happen.

1) In 1.1 billion years, it will become 10% brighter. This will cause the water in the atmosphere to dry up and be lost to space.

2) In 3.5 billion years, the sun will become 40% brighter, causing oceans to boil. No where on Earth will be habitable and snow will be ancient history. Earth will resemble a dry, hot Venus*.

3) The sun will then continue to convert Hydrogen for 7 billion more years, before becoming a red giant*. When it becomes a red giant, it will expand enormously and swallow most of our solar system.

other facts about stars in general

• Kepler 186B (a recently found planet) is the most similar planet to Earth f
• There are 5 new stars in the milky way each year
• Our sun (in comparison to the universe) is really really close.
• The sun is only a medium sized star.

*
Nebula- a cloud of iornized gasses in space, birth place of stars.
Nuclear fusion- a nuclear reaction where atomic nuclei of low atomic number combine to a heavier nucleus to release energy.
Venus- 2nd closest planet to the sun, a very dry hot planet.
Red giant- The dying stage of star.