What are the differences between red giants and supergiants?

What are the differences between red giants and supergiants?

Red giants and supergiants are both large stars, but they differ in size, luminosity, and evolutionary stages. Red giants are typically between 10 to 100 times the mass of the Sun, while supergiants can be over 100 times more massive. Supergiants also have a much higher luminosity and can be several thousand times brighter than the Sun.

What causes these stars to become red giants or supergiants?

The evolution into red giants or supergiants is primarily due to the star's mass. When a star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, it begins to fuse helium and other heavier elements. Lower-mass stars become red giants, while more massive stars evolve into supergiants as they continue to fuse heavier elements.

Can you give examples of red giants and supergiants?

Sure! A well-known red giant is Betelgeuse, located in the Orion constellation. An example of a supergiant is VY Canis Majoris, which is one of the largest known stars.

How do their lifespans compare?

Red giants generally have longer lifespans than supergiants. A red giant can live for billions of years, while supergiants have shorter lifespans, often only a few million years, due to their rapid consumption of nuclear fuel.