How is the sun expected to evolve in the future?

The sun is a main sequence star, which means that it is in a stable phase of its evolution. However, as it continues to burn hydrogen in its core, it will eventually evolve into a red giant and then a white dwarf.

Red giant phase

In about 5 billion years, the sun will begin to run out of hydrogen in its core and will start to expand into a red giant. During this phase, the sun will become much larger and brighter, and its surface temperature will cool down. The sun's outer layers will expand to the point where they engulf Mercury, Venus, and possibly Earth. This will mark the end of life on Earth.

White dwarf phase

After the red giant phase, the sun will start to shed its outer layers and contract into a white dwarf. The white dwarf will be about the size of Earth but will have a mass similar to that of the sun. It will continue to radiate heat and light for billions of years until it eventually cools down and becomes a cold, dark object known as a black dwarf.

Impact on the solar system

The sun's evolution will have a significant impact on the rest of the solar system. The expanding red giant phase will likely destroy Mercury and Venus, and will make life on Earth impossible. However, some of the outer planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn, may survive and continue to orbit the white dwarf.