home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
/ SOHO - Exploring the Sun - 2003 Update / SOHO - Exploring the Sun - 2003 Update.iso / pc / data / main.dcr / Encyclopedia_32_giant.png < prev    next >
Portable Network Graphic  |  2003-02-25  |  34.2 KB  |  512x385  |  8-bit (39 colors)
   ocr: GIANT Red giant. An enormous star that has been through its main sequence phase. Its diameter is 10-1,000 times that of our Sun (if supergiants are in- cluded as giants). The surface remperature on a giant is usually under 5,000 degrees, causing its red colour, and giving rise to its popular name of red giant. Our Sun will also become a red giant. It will expand SO much that our planet will be swallowed up. The giant phase of a star lasts for a considerably shorter time than its main se- quence phase. After the giant phase a star turns into a white dwart, aneu- tron star or a black hole, accor ...