What are the types of red giants?

What are the types of red giants?

Red giants are stars that have expanded and cooled after exhausting their hydrogen fuel. There are several types, including:

1. M-type Red Giants: These are the coolest and reddest, with surface temperatures below 3,500 K.
2. S-type Red Giants: These stars have a mix of carbon and oxygen in their atmospheres, giving them a unique spectral signature.
3. C-type Red Giants: Carbon stars, which are rich in carbon and often appear redder than M-type giants.

Can you explain more about M-type red giants?

Sure! M-type red giants are the coolest of the red giants, with temperatures under 3,500 K. They are characterized by their reddish color and are often found in the later stages of stellar evolution. These stars can be very large, sometimes expanding to several hundred times the radius of the Sun.

What is the life cycle of a red giant?

The life cycle of a red giant begins when a star exhausts its hydrogen fuel in the core. It then contracts and heats up, leading to hydrogen fusion in a shell around the core. This causes the outer layers to expand and cool, transforming the star into a red giant. Eventually, it may shed its outer layers, leaving behind a white dwarf.

How do red giants differ from supergiants?

Red giants and supergiants are both large stars, but supergiants are significantly more massive. While red giants can be up to 100 times the Sun's radius, supergiants can exceed 1,000 times. Supergiants also have shorter lifespans and undergo more complex fusion processes.