What is the difference between a red giant star and a red supergiant star?

Red giant stars and red supergiant stars are both large stars that are nearing the end of their life cycles. However, there are some key differences between the two types of stars.

A red giant star is a star that has exhausted the supply of hydrogen fuel in its core and has begun to burn helium. As the star burns helium, it expands and becomes cooler, causing it to turn red. Red giant stars are typically between 10 and 100 times the size of our sun and have a relatively low mass.

On the other hand, a red supergiant star is much larger and more massive than a red giant. These stars can be up to 1,000 times the size of our sun and have a mass that is up to 10 times greater. Like red giant stars, red supergiants have exhausted the hydrogen fuel in their cores and are burning helium. However, because they are so much larger, they burn through their fuel much more quickly.

Another key difference between the two types of stars is their luminosity. Red supergiant stars are some of the brightest objects in the universe, and can emit up to 500,000 times more energy than our sun. In contrast, red giant stars are much dimmer.

Overall, the main differences between red giant stars and red supergiant stars are their size, mass, and luminosity. While both types of stars are similar in that they are nearing the end of their lives, red supergiant stars are much more massive and luminous than red giant stars.