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Is the Sun Getting Bigger?

Published in Astronomy 1 min read

Yes, the Sun is getting bigger, but extremely slowly.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

  • Historical Growth: Since its formation roughly 4.5 billion years ago, the Sun has increased in size by approximately 20%. This growth is due to the ongoing nuclear fusion reactions in its core.

  • Gradual Increase: The Sun is currently in its main sequence phase, fusing hydrogen into helium. This process releases energy, causing the Sun to gradually become brighter and, subsequently, larger.

  • Future Expansion: Over the next 5 to 6 billion years, the Sun will continue to slowly expand. However, at the end of its life, it will dramatically increase in size, becoming a red giant. During this phase, it will expand so much that it will likely engulf Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth.

In summary, the Sun is currently growing at a slow rate, and this process will continue for billions of years before a much more significant expansion occurs.

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