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Red Giant Expansion

After exhausting core hydrogen, a Sun-like star's core contracts while its envelope expands dramatically. The star becomes a red giant, 100-200× its original size.

Main Sequence
Core hydrogen fusion
Age:0 Gyr
Radius:1.0 R☉
Temperature:5,778 K
Luminosity:1.0 L☉
Core Temp:15 MK

Stellar Structure

Envelope
H Shell
He Core

Evolution Timeline

MS Subgiant RGB He Flash AGB